The Maidens

The Maidens is a well written academic mystery set at Cambridge by Alex Michaelides. Released 15th June 2021 by Celadon, it's 337 pages and is available in all 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 was most impressed by the actual prose in this work. The story flows and engages. The characters aren't always three dimensional and there are some troubling actions, especially from protagonist Mariana which which were so jarring and unethical as to yank me completely out of the story. There were also a few scenes which seemed disjointed and odd and felt as though they'd been inserted for red-herring value and didn't advance the narrative at all. 

Despite that, I loved the brooding academic vibe and the story-line steeped in (often literal) theatrical Greek tragedy. The whole had a gravitas which I found compelling and which kept me invested in finding out how it ends. It's not derivative at all, but in some good ways, this standalone reminds me of the Kate Fansler books by Amanda Cross (though they're set in the USA). Just about every other reviewer has commented on the twisty ending. I can't say I foresaw the entire denouement and resolution, but neither was it a complete shock.

The language is mature, not egregiously so, but it's peppered with moderate amounts of profanity. The book's populated by young adults in a university setting, so it's honestly mild by comparison to my experience of university students in real life, but it is there. There are also some explicit sexual elements, so readers might want to be aware and read accordingly. (It's not pornographic, and it's used in context).

Overall, it's a beautifully lyrically written story with loads of atmosphere and the prose is sublime. Michaelides writes very very well. 

Four stars.

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

Absence of Mallets (Fixer-Upper Mystery #9)

Absence of Mallets is the 9th Fixer-Upper cozy mystery by Kate Carlisle. Released 7th Dec 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market 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.

This is a fun and easy-to-read cozy with well established three dimensional characters and an ensemble cast. Although it's the 9th book in the series, it works fine as a standalone with the codicil that events and relationships established in this book will spoil some of the previous books if read out of order. Readers who read them out of order won't be lost or confused though; the author manages to fill in the backstory and character developments without spoon-feeding or info dumping. 

For readers of romance who like some cozy mystery in their reads (or cozy readers who enjoy clean romance) this series will be a good fit. The plot is simple and mostly linear. The violence is mostly off scene and without gore. The language is PG and there is no racy content. The denouement and resolution were a bit over the top in my opinion, but not egregiously so. 

Four stars. Well written and engaging.

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

How to Distill: A Complete Guide from Still Design and Fermentation through Distilling and Aging Spirits

How to Distill is a concise and well written guide to stills, fermentation, and the processes involved in making and aging spirits written by Aaron Hyde. Released 21st Dec 2021 by Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is such an information dense and useful book. I've been brewing for years and although I've brewed apple and plum wines, mead, and other potables, distilling spirits has always been something I wanted to explore "later". I was discouraged because the laws around distilling (for consumption) seemed so antiquated and complex, and the process so involved that I never got anywhere. The author systematically explains the process step by step. He also briefly (very briefly) explores some of the legalities involved, but most of the content is given over to the distillation process: mashing, fermenting, distilling, polishing (filtering), aging (maturation), blending & bottling. Following chapters contain recipes for spirits such as vodka, gin, schnapps, rum, & whiskey. 

The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with clear color photos and understandable text. The appendices include tutorials for understanding and making flavor diagrams, choosing and sourcing equipment, and some online e-tailers and information/instructional websites. There's also a short glossary with useful terms and explanations. 

Five stars. Readers will need to research their own local laws to avoid running afoul of the government, but as for the actual process of fermentation and distillation, this book has got it covered. The book's slant and recipes are for potable spirits, and apart from the basic process, folks who are looking for essential oil, fuel oil, or other non-drinkable distilling will need to look elsewhere. This is a good place to start though. 

Five stars. I especially liked the updated modern equipment overview and explanations.

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

Draw Manga Style: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide for Drawing Anime and Manga - 62 Lessons: Basics, Characters, Special Effects

Draw Manga Style is a tutorial and style guide for beginning artists for drawing anime and manga figures by Scott Harris. Released 14th Dec 2021 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 128 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This a fun and accessible tutorial guide aimed at beginners to slightly more advanced readers and usable for all-ages. The author has an engaging and encouraging style of teaching and writes clearly and enthusiastically. I love that he says that the way that he saw improvement was simply by practicing and refusing to give up! The book includes an abbreviated introduction with a primer on forms and elements, followed by very general anime anatomy and physiological features and how to progress from rough sketch through the refining process. 

The book's tutorial chapters include step by step tutorials for different characters focusing on facial features, character personalities, and step by step simple line drawings for producing an outline sketch.

This would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving (perhaps bundled with some basic drawing supplies). It's a very simple and abbreviated guide but there's a lot of good basic information here.

Four stars.

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

Drawing Lessons for Beginners: Cute Animals: Learn to draw animals! Start with basic shapes, then make them cute!

Drawing Lessons for Beginners: Cute Animals is a beginner drawing tutorial book by Ai Akikusa. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 128 pages and available in paperback format.

This is an appealing book filled with simple tutorials for drawing animals. The tutorials and techniques are suited to beginning artists. There are step by step tutorials for more than 60 different animals (including some similar to one another grouped into families). The introduction includes some very basic drawing instruction for making a balanced drawing and some simple line drawn comparison pages to show the differences between different animal limbs, faces, bodies, and other features.

The pages which follow include simple single page line drawn tutorials for each animal in a couple poses with step by step progression illustrations. They're very simple and will be easy to reproduce for even beginning artists.

This would make a great gift for would-be artists of all ages. The included tutorials are varied and eclectic. There is a complete table of contents, so locating individual ones shouldn't be problematic. They're slanted toward line drawings, though colored pens, crayons, and watercolors could certainly be used to enhance the drawings.

Cute book, accessible for everyone.

Four stars. This would be a nice choice, bundled with some drawing supples, for a young artist. It would also do well for school or public library acquisition, home library, and even for adults/childminders/caregivers/teachers who want to up their "draw with me" game with their young family members.

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

The Godstone

The Godstone is an immersive and beautifully well written cross-worlds fantasy by Violette Malan. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by DAW, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats (paperback due out 4th quarter 2022). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a wonderfully engaging fantasy with impressive complexity and subtlety. The characters are three dimensional and believable, the dialogue flows well and I never got yanked out of the story once during the read. In fact, this was my commute read over the course of a week and I almost missed my bus stop a couple of times because I was so immersed in the story that I was unaware of my surroundings. 

The narrative arc is slow to build and meticulously constructed. I found the denouement and resolution competently written and (mostly) satisfying. It's ostensibly a standalone but there are strong hints foreshadowing more to come. 

I enjoyed this volume enough to seek out the author's other works; high praise for me, since I never seem to have enough time to read my towering mountain of TBR books. 

Four stars. 

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

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later: A Dynamic Approach to Drawing and Painting on Location

 

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later is a tutorial method guide for sketching on the go. Due out 4th Jan 2022 from Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 112 pages and available in flexibound and ebook formats. This is one of several books and the second book by this author in the Urban Sketching series.

This is a well written, accessible, and useful book for intermediate to advanced artists who are looking for guidance to improve their technique. The book begins with a very short introduction. Tools and specific methods and use of color and negative space aren't covered (but this information is easily accessible with the briefest online search). Instead, the page content is densely filled with good 'bite sized' tips which cover dynamic sketching by coloring basic shapes first, and filling in detail work and inking later.

The author's entire process is well documented with photo and drawn illustrations. Basic techniques are briefly covered, followed by more specific in-depth overviews, and lesson tutorials of step-by-step processes. The book also contains a useful tutorial and tips collection as well as a gallery of works for inspiration and practice. 

Five stars. Definitely a worthwhile addition to the artist's reference library.

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

Anatomy for the Artist: A Complete Guide to Drawing the Human Body

Anatomy for the Artist is a tutorial manual for human anatomy aimed at artists. Due out 1st March 2022 from Arcturus Publishing, it's 478 pages and will be available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a comprehensive and accessible manual. The author's background in medical illustration, physics, and teaching comes through clearly in her extensive and coherent instructions. She presents the human body in line drawings with relevant anatomical terms in glossary lists scattered throughout. There are lists which include anatomical/medical spatial directions and an abbreviated list with Latin prefixes, but they're accessibly defined and not at all intimidating. Relevant lessons on themes such as texture, structure, and layering, are well illustrated with short tutorials in which students can find instruction and inspiration.

This would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, artists/makers studio library, or home use.

Four and a half stars. 

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

Low Carb Yum Simple Keto Meals for Beginners: 125+ Low Carb Recipes for Two or More

Low Carb Yum Simple Keto Meals for Beginners is a how-to keto guide with recipes by Lisa Marcaurele. Due out 28th Dec 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Mariner imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The introduction covers the basics of the keto lifestyle/diet, including a basic primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, tools, supplies, how-to figure nutritional needs and plan to achieve weight loss.

The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, breads (!!!), appetizers & snacks, soups & salads, side dishes, beef, poultry, pork, seafood, meatless, and desserts. The table of contents lists each recipe by name along with page location.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements only. The prep times, net carbs, servings, and tips and options are listed in well laid out sidebars. The ingredients are listed in a bullet list followed by step by step directions. Special categories (nut-free, paleo friendly, vegetarian, etc) are clearly marked on each recipe. Nutritional information is included in a text box at the end of each recipe and includes: calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugar, protein, net carbs, and carbs, protein and fat by percentage weight.

The ingredients will be readily accessible for most readers and can be found at any well stocked grocery store. There are very few exceptions and those can be sourced online or at health food stores (xanthan gum, granular monkfruit sweetener, and a couple others). One thing I noticed is that the recipes tend to be heavy on animal proteins. There *are* vegetarian options, but they're not plentiful. Many of the dishes also seemed a bit high on the calorie count for a book which is ostensibly about keto diet in regards to weight loss.

Four stars. I really like (and use) this cookbook. One codicil, only roughly 20% of the recipes are accompanied by photographs. The dishes and serving suggestions which are pictured are attractive and appropriate, however.

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

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso is a new addition to the immensely popular Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Due out 4th Jan 2022 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is another engaging little book, well written in clear accessible language.  There is a surprising amount of information included here compared to the page count. The art by Teresa Bellon is appealing and colorful and I found myself drawn into the pictures. The illustrations are active and full of creativity and suit the subject well. There are flashes of homage throughout but they're presented in a playful and respectful way.

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. Picasso was a rebel and a firebrand and lived such an interesting life and the author does a wonderful job of relating the information in an age appropriate manner without being too specific or disingenuous. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers and a good introduction to his works.  

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

The Storyteller

The Storyteller is a well written YA story about "truth" and the different narrative our lives can encompass by Kathryn Williams. Due out 11th Jan 2022 from Harper, it's 368 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a YA coming of age story told in parallel flashback story lines through journal entries made by the main protagonist's great aunt as a young girl. There's a clear delineation between the modern day and early 20th century stories and the characters' voices are quite distinct, so it's easy to keep track - there's no confusion between the two. 

The story is compelling and I found myself drawn in by Anna's recollections of life in Russia in the early part of the 20th century. The intended audience will likely find protagonist Jess likeable and relatable. There's romance, but it doesn't overpower the story.

The author makes some good points about changing who we are to fit in and conforming to other people's expectations in order to avoid conflict. In addition, the story is engaging and plays across the wider canvas of the Russian revolution and history. 

Four stars. An exciting story, well told. 

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

A Radical Act of Free Magic (The Shadow Histories #2)

A Radical Act of Free Magic is an immersive and beautifully rendered alternate history fantasy and the second volume of The Shadow Histories by H.G. Parry. Released 20th July 2021 by Hatchette on their Redhook imprint, it's 528 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I love well written alternate history speculative fiction, and this is a good one. The characters are three dimensional and believable, the background settings are immersive and complete, and the dialogue is a joy. The Napoleonic wars time period is a personal favorite and the magical aspects, dark blood magic, magical beasts, and campaigns, are so well intertwined around a framework of real history that it's not always clear where one begins and the other ends.

Pitt's relationship with Wilberforce is a centrepiece of the novel and the author manages to convey the complexity and subtlety of their friendship without bogging the reader down in minutiae. There will be inevitable comparisons to Naomi Novik's Temeraire books, and whilst they're very different in both scope and content, I think there will be a large overlap in the readership and I would recommend this series to the fan of Novik's excellent novels. This is the second book in the series and although this book can be understood without any background, I believe it would work best read in order.

This would make a nice series for fans of historical fantasy, alternate history worlds, political history, and fans of the Napoleonic era. I was blown away by the depth of verisimilitude and world building. 

Four and a half stars.

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

Monet and the Monster Magic

Monet and the Monster Magic is a simply told, engaging, and magical story for the youngest readers by R.E. Lockett. Due out 1st March 2022, it's 32 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a whimsical and fun story told in alternating full page electronic art and simple rhyming text. Monet is a little girl who finds some small monster friends and explores their world along with some everyday magic (and manages to get home in time for dinner). The text is simple and the pictures are very colorful and fun. I liked that Monet is resourceful friendly and kind, that she listens to her parents, and that she seeks out adventures. I love the representation of the friendly monsters she meets in the course of the book; they're all different sizes and colors and shapes.

This would be a nice selection for public or school library acquisition, read-to-me/bedtime reading time with an adult even for the youngest children. It would also make a good reading circle classroom group read. It's a peaceful and fun read - not scary at all. 

Four stars.

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

Common Sense Natural Beekeeping: Sustainable, Bee-Friendly Techniques to Help Your Hives Survive and Thrive

Common Sense Natural Beekeeping is a well written easy to understand guide to sustainable beekeeping by Kim Flottum. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The author is an experienced beekeeper and USDA researcher and this book is full of well thought out and sensible advice for sustainable and successful beekeeping. The book is divided into three main sections: an introduction which introduces the main concepts and biological evolution of bees along with the tools & supplies of the apiarist's toolbox,detailed housing needs and possibilities examined with regard to the needs and health of the *bees* and not necessarily prioritizing only the convenience of the beekeeper, a second section covering health and maintenance, and a third and final section covering husbandry practice and procedures.

The photography throughout is in color and is very clear and professionally rendered. The photo captions are easy to understand and relevant.

Beekeeping is such a rewarding and fascinating hobby and improving the health of our own biodiverse environment aids everyone from locally to globally. This is a short but information dense and layman accessible guide. It would make a good selection for public or school library use, home/smallhold library, makers groups, allotment and community garden groups, and similar.

Four and a half stars. Very well done.

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

The Met Faith Ringgold: Narrating the World in Pattern and Color

The Met Faith Ringgold is one of a new series of illustrated biographies of famous artists for young readers. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 56 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a clearly told and beautifully illustrated biography of the powerhouse painter, artist, writer, and creator Faith Ringgold. The text is full of age-appropriate details about the artist's life and works. One thing I really enjoyed about this book (and the others in the series) are the reader drawing and writing prompts generously scattered throughout. Readers are invited to think about a song they enjoy and describe why they like it, to make a mask and other mixed media projects, and many more. The prompts are placed on pages with tie-in background scenes and relevant observations about the artist's life and development. Although aimed at young readers, I learned things about Ms. Ringgold I didn't know before.

This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for the home library, and for gift giving to a young reader, perhaps bundled with some drawing tools and supplies.

Five stars. Genuinely well written and illustrated.

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

Tying Landon Mayer's Signature Flies

Tying Landon Mayer's Signature Flies is a well written and beautifully illustrated guide to tying flies used successfully by fishing guides for groups. Due out 30th Dec 2021 from Rowman & Littlefield on their Stackpole Books imprint, it's 216 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a no-nonsense book. There are 19 tutorials here and they are specific, well illustrated, beautifully photographed and instructional, but what really engaged me and what I most enjoyed reading were the friendly, open, and honest reminiscences and memories related by the author about fish, about fishing, about being outdoors, and about other fishers and sharing experiences guiding and mentoring other sportsmen/women. And the tutorials of course. 

Each of the tutorials includes the name, background history, extreme close up macro photograph, tools and supplies in a bullet list color highlighted text box, and detailed step-by-step instructions. The instructions include close-up photographs which are clear, in color, and don't have any fingers or tools blocking the view. Alternatives for different sizes and color variations are shown in their own boxes outside the main instructions. The photography in this volume is super high quality and clear.

The author gives good tips for how to get the best performance out of the ties and where to use them. The book is full of good info and will be right at home with fly tying and fishing enthusiasts. Although I don't fish much, I do enjoy tying the occasional fly for friends and family, and this was a joy to read. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, makers groups, fishing/sporting boutiques, and gift giving. 

Five stars. 

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

Embroidery for Everyone

 

Embroidery for Everyone is a nice collection of beginner to intermediate friendly surface embroidery patterns and tutorials by Kelly Fletcher. Released 19th Oct 2021 by Quarto on their becker & mayer! imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The introductory chapters cover materials, fabric and thread choices, needles, scissors, tensioning devices (hoops) etc etc. as well as stitch diagrams with color photographs showing needle positions and the steps to form each stitch. The step-by-step photos are annotated and accompanied by explanatory text.  They're clear and easy to follow.

It should be noted that this book is about surface embroidery, not cross stitch.  It's lovely to see tutorials and and upswing in interest for the other fibrearts; it seems like only cross-stitch had any following for a long long time and it's nice to see surface embroidery enjoying a renaissance.

The bulk of the book contains the patterns for the projects in sequential order.  The pattern keys contain the flosses by DMC 6 strand floss number. Conversion charts for other brands of floss are not provided in the book, but conversion charts are readily accessible online for readers who prefer another brand of floss, or silk instead of cotton. 

The pattern charts are in full color with color keys in a footer bar under the pattern shown with a simplified color line drawing showing the stitch type. The charts also contain color designations for each floss used in the pattern. The patterns are simple and lend themselves well to further embellishment or can used as they are. Full size templates are included in the back of the book for all of the projects.

This would make a nice gift, perhaps bundled with some stitching supplies, for a friend who wants to learn to stitch. It would also make a nice selection for public or school library acquisition, or as a good inspiration source for the home studio.

Four stars. 

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

Show-How Guides: Egg Decorating: The 18 Essential Designs Techniques Everyone Should Know!

Show-How Guides: Egg Decorating is a short and engaging tutorial guide to egg decorating aimed at young readers (and adult helpers) written by Renée Kurilla & Keith Zoo. Due out in early 2022 from Macmillan Children's Books, it's 48 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is a clearly written and graphically simple guide laid out in comic style panels which are illustrated with line drawings showing many methods to decorate eggs. Techniques include dying with food coloring, surface embellishment with paint & glitter, wax resist dyeing, printing with inks and paint, and drawing. There's also a tutorial on creating "costumes" (stands and props) for finished decorated eggs. The tools and supplies for all of the projects are easy-to-source and inexpensive; most will already be found in the average home. The art is fun and whimsically appealing. I love the little artist's beret the narrator-egg is wearing throughout.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, scouting/activity/maker's groups or similar. It would also be a good choice for childminders, caregivers, teachers, or other adult facilitators working with youngsters. 

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

Sense & Second-Degree Murder (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #2)

Sense & Second-Degree Murder is a well written period murder mystery pastiche based on Jane Austen's characters and the second book in this series by Tirzah Price. Due out 5th April 2022 from Harper Collins, it's 416 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Although it's the second book in the series, this is a standalone story and self contained in one volume. The characters and dialogue are appealingly written (with nods to the original period characters) but the whole is perfectly accessible and enjoyable for the modern reader. Although fairly true to the original source material, the author has constructed a solid mystery with a satisfying denouement and resolution.

Although published under the HarperTeen imprint, this is a robust mystery for all ages. 

Four stars. Enjoyable and well done. 

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

How to Frame Your Own Pictures

 

How to Frame Your Own Pictures is an accessibly written no-nonsense guide with  to framing by Jane Warren. Due out 30th Jan 2021 by Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 120 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Being able to control the creative process and customize framing for art and needlework gives an extra distinctive and exclusive finish to the pieces we hang in our homes. It can also be a significant cost savings over having it done elsewhere. 

The author does a good job of covering the process step-by-step. The book contains a thorough introductory chapter with in-depth descriptions of tools and supplies and materials lists. The following chapters contain individual tutorials in ascending order of difficulty and starting with a basic frame followed by chapters covering makeovers for charity shop frames, found materials, gilding, box frames, embossing (gorgeous copper frame tutorial including optional patina here), and other specialty custom alternatives to make the perfect frame for any need.

The author has included a useful resources and vendor list with links. The sources listed are slanted toward readers in the UK, but readers located elsewhere won't have problems locating retailers and suppliers online with a simple Google search. 

I have a huge box of needlework, embroidery, and antique textiles lying in an acid-free box with tissue paper between the layers and this book has really inspired me to gather the tools and materials to custom frame some of them so they can be seen and enjoyed. 

Four and a half stars. This would be a super selection for public and school library acquisition, makers groups, activity groups, or the home studio.

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

Every Minute Is a Day: A Doctor, an Emergency Room, and a City Under Siege

Every Minute Is a Day is an honest and well told memoir of an ER doctor and his experiences on the front lines of the pandemic. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Crown Publishing, it's 256 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a compelling, honestly written, and sobering look at life on the front lines for healthcare professionals during the early days of the pandemic. He discusses the bewilderment and frustration of supply and support scarcity, insecurity about how covid would develop, and burnout from stress and overwork.  He also does a good job of explaining the finite resources they work with on a normal basis and how they have been stretched beyond the breaking point by the demands from the pandemic. 

I work in healthcare in Northern Europe and although I'm not on the front lines (I work in a lab with zero patient contact), I certainly recognized many of the overwhelming feelings of doubt and fear he relates. How would we take care of the non-covid patients? How should we prioritize resources and treatment for people who don't have covid? How do we prevent covid patients from spreading infection to the healthcare staff and other non-covid patients? How can hospitals care for these patients without necessary supplies?

Five stars. This is not always a comfortable read, but I feel it's an important one. 

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

Eight Faces at Three: A John J. Malone Mystery (John J. Malone #1)

 

Eight Faces at Three is a reformat and re-release of the first book featuring John J. Malone written by Craig Rice. Originally published in 1939, this edition was released 3rd August 2021 as part of the American Mystery Classics series. It's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats in this edition. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a relentlessly lighthearted banter filled alcohol-soaked mystery and the first book to feature Rice's lawyer sleuth John Malone. It's definitely a product of its time period and hearkens back to the days of witty repartee drawing room comedies of the stage. I honestly found much of the dialogue forced and found myself (after a while) reading the lines as if they were read by actors in a play which lent a frenetic quality to the banter, but did nothing for the narrative as a whole.

The mysteries, resolution, and denouement are pretty well constructed and satisfying. It's the dialogue and relentlessly, almost frenetically, witty writing which are somewhat wearying. 

I would recommend the series as a whole to fans of period mysteries and republishing in new matching formats certainly saves readers (like me) from having to hope that they serendipitously find an old dogeared paperback copy circa 1940 which escaped being recycled in the WW2 paper drives, but this book in particular won't be for all readers. 

Three and a half stars. It's good to see these lesser known gems from the American mystery golden age being dusted off and reprinted for new generations of readers.

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

 

A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries

A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries is a nicely varied anthology of holiday crime curated by Martin Edwards and a part of the British Library Crime Classics series. Released 12th Oct 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 320 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I enjoyed this collection of holiday themed stories which were originally published between 1933 and 1963. All of them are from very well known classic golden age British crime writers and are well selected and enjoyable. The classic authors are represented: Marsh, Carr, Allingham, Canning, and all the others (8 stories in toto) will be well familiar to fans of the British golden age. 

The stories are a mixed bunch, but all were enjoyable and all were squarely in the 4 star range. I was unfamiliar with several of the actual stories, which was a nice bonus. Some are lesser known works by very well known creators.

For me, one of the biggest draws of the books in the crime classics series are the erudite and always interesting introductions by editor Martin Edwards.  Mr. Edwards has a prodigious knowledge of the genre and writes engagingly and well.

Well written, this entry and the series as a whole are well worth seeking out. This would make a superlative selection for readers of the genre as well as an introduction to classic crime fiction from the golden age. It's so nice to see these being released for a new generation of fans.

Four stars.

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

Suburban Dicks

Suburban Dicks is a superbly grimly acerbically funny mystery by Fabian Nicieza. Released 22nd June 2021 by Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

A lot of people whose jobs rely on the written word wrongly consider crime fiction, well, low hanging fruit. It's not quite quite they say, it's often outrè, badly written (they say), well, this author would beg to differ. This is a genuinely funny and sharply wry procedural with a complex plot and an genuinely nuanced and satisfying denouement and resolution. Sometimes the humor reminded me faintly of Ben Aaronovitch or Fowler's Bryant & May books with a subtle complexity reminiscent of the more cerebral and classic Americans like Stout and Woolrich.

The word that keeps popping up in my head is clever. This is a cleverly constructed puzzle. The main character is hysterically deadpan-funny but also really really clever. She's head-and-shoulders smarter than most of the rest of the people in the room, whatever room she's in at the moment, but she's not above making slyly sarcastic cracks which often fly above the heads of the people she's talking to. She teases apart the hidden motives and solution to the crimes and does it between shuttling her kids to soccer practice, homework, and being heavily pregnant.

This is a standalone, but I sincerely hope it's the first in a long long series. Four and a half stars. I highly recommend it to folks who enjoy a bit of snark with their murder mysteries.

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

Firebreak (Firebreak #1)

Firebreak is a standalone dystopian near-future adventure story by Nicole Kornher-Stace. Released 4th May 2021 by Simon & Schuster on their Gallery/Saga imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback release scheduled for 2022). 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 an enveloping, intense, well written powerhouse of a novel which delivered everything it promised me. I've seen lots (and lots) of comparisons from other reviewers with Ready Player One and it has only the most basic commonalities: much of the action takes place in a virtual world (but with very real real-life consequences), and there's a gigantic EvilCorp the underdog protagonist has to fight. 

There's a lot of unvarnished social commentary here and I got flashbacks to Sinclair's The Jungle at several points. The author takes on late stage capitalism, corporate power dynamics, exploitation, economic corruption and manages to do so in the middle of a rollicking adventure buddy narrative which is blissfully free from romantic drama. 

The author writes deftly and engagingly and I never found my interest waning. I was a little intimidated at the very beginning of the read over the length of the book, but I was gratified to see that there was no page bloat at all and I was never yanked out of my suspension of disbelief. It -is- a first person narrative which is challenging, but the author manages to avoid the "I did this and then this and then this happened" pitfalls. 

It's a gripping and well told story. Highly recommended for fans of dystopian underdog adventures with strong protagonists. Four and a half stars.

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

Fairies And Frosting (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #7)

Fairies And Frosting is the 7th book in the Magicorum series by Christina Bauer. Released Originally released in May 2021, this reformat and re-release from Monster House is 238 pages and is available in ebook and paperback 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 an easy to read, very very light cozy paranormal romance novel aimed at YA readers. This installment is written in alternating first person perspective around Elle and Alec and labeled in the chapter headings which character is being written. They're full of snarky sarcastic dialogue and very much action driven. The main characters' arcs are written throughout the previous 6 books in the series, but can certainly be read out of order without any confusion.

The books are full of fractured fairy tale archetypes and riffs on classic fairy tales. The happily-ever-afters are not easy to attain and there's a metric ton of crisis and drama and tortured teenage angst and longing between the start and finish.

I'm about 4 decades outside the target audience (older teens and YA), but I am confident that they'll be gobbled up by the readers for whom they're intended. There is a little bit of rough language, but nothing which would raise an eyebrow in the average school hallway.

The dialogue is sometimes eye-wateringly sarcastic, but again, for readers in the target audience, that will likely be a plus and not at all negative. This would be a good series to binge, since book 8 has just dropped. For fans of Twilight, Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, and similar, these books will fit the bill. I found the action driven plotting superficial and not-very-engaging, but again for the target audience, it will probably be fine. (Seeing a pattern here).

Three and a half stars for this entry, rounded up for the fact that 14 year old me (and not jaded middle aged me) would have found them engaging. I would imagine it will likely be higher for the target audience. 

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

The Met Hokusai: He Saw the World in a Wave

The Met Hokusai is one of a new series of illustrated biographies of famous artists for young readers. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 56 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a clearly told and beautifully illustrated biography of the famous 18th century Japanese artist. The text is full of age-appropriate details about the artist's life and works. One thing I really enjoyed about this book (and the others in the series) are the reader drawing prompts generously scattered throughout. Readers are invited to draw in the style of an artist they admire, draw street scenes and people in their neighborhood, draw scenes from different seasons and many more. The prompts are placed on pages with tie-in background scenes and relevant observations about the artist's life and development. 

This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for the home library, and for gift giving to a young reader, perhaps bundled with some drawing tools and supplies.

Five stars. Genuinely well written and illustrated.

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

Déjà Boo (Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium #6)

 

Déjà Boo is the 6th Chantilly Adair paranormal cozy by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Severn River Publishing, it's 178 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a very (very) light paranormal cozy with a protagonist who can see and interact with ghosts. The ghosts she encounters are just as interested and engaged with living as they were before they died. Additionally, there's an unexplained dark shadow flitting around threateningly throughout.

Much of the plot turns on Chantilly's insistence on investigating the claims of the not-so-dearly departed (who can lie and mislead as well in the afterlife as they did before), putting herself in danger and threatening her boyfriend's professional reputation and job, since he's an actual professional officer of the law and it's not doing him any favors to have a girlfriend who is continually communing with the spirit world and putting herself in danger.

The plotting is straightforward and action driven. The dialogue is a bit over the top but not egregiously so for a light cozy. It's a squeaky clean fast read which readers who enjoy paranormal cozies will find diverting. Also worth noting, it's set in the southern USA and I found the vernacular (and sweet tea, and all the "bless your heart"-ing) a bit much. Readers who love southern fried cozies will not mind.

Three and a half stars. Easy and fast read.

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

Lake Crescent (Creature X Mysteries #2)

Lake Crescent is the second book in the Creature X adventure/mystery series by J. J. Dupuis. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Dundurn, it's 328 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a well written offbeat mystery written around a podcast group of ragtag journalists and scientists who are looking for proof (or disproof) of crypto-zoological creatures like bigfoot and giant eels and the phenomena surrounding them. They investigate local myths and culture and uncover long-buried dangerous secrets along the way.

The plotting is not at all straightforward. There are several intertwining subplots which meander along side paths adding background information and oral history of "Cressie" (a giant eel in Lake Crescent around whose presence the team's podcast centers). The characterisation is adept and well rendered and I found most of the main characters both distinct and believable. As a small-town mystery, it's full of the usual quirky, unsettling, vaguely threatening secondary characters. 

The author successfully combines murder, cryptozoology, reality TV, and investigative journalism and even manages to believably toss some lost pirate treasure into the mix. The climax and denouement were fairly heavily telegraphed throughout the book, so for most readers it won't be a race to the finish to figure out whodunnit and why, but the writing is above average and I enjoyed the ride enough to seek out the other books (one previously released, one upcoming) in the series. The author is adept at his craft.

Four stars.

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

The Ultimate Baking for One Cookbook: 175 Super Easy Recipes Made Just for You

The Ultimate Baking for One Cookbook is a practical and handy collection of small-batch recipes by Kelly Jaggers. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 240 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

Some years ago "mug cakes" were wildly popular and a mostly satisfying sweet alternative to fixing a full sized cake (which would go to waste) or dozens of cookies. This collection takes that basic idea to a whole new level. The ideas behind small batch cooking are more complex than just dividing ingredients, and the author has done all the legwork to figure out cooking times and temperature adjustments beforehand.

The recipes are appealing and well written. They're arranged roughly thematically: cookies & brownies, cakes & cheesecakes, breads rolls & biscuits, pies tarts & cobblers, puddings & custards, and muffins & quick breads.  A US/metric conversion chart and a cross referenced index are included at the back of the book. Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes, and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed bullet point style along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures only. The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. The nutritional information is not included.

The only thing the collection lacks is photographs. The food photos which are included are very well styled, attractive, and appropriate, but only 15-20% of the recipes are accompanied by photos (at a rough guess). 

The recipes are well developed and the ones we tried were tasty and appealing. This would be a good choice for library acquisition as well as a go-to staple for singles and students. It would also be a good selection for folks newly living on their own as the recipes are especially beginner friendly and require little in the way of exotic ingredients or tools/supplies.

Four stars.

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