Dungeon Crawler Carl - Dungeon Crawler Carl #1

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

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

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

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

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

Terminal Surf - Lewis Cole #12

 

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

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

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

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

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

That Night in the Library

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

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

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

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

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

Middletide

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

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

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

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

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

Chocolate Lover: A Baking Book―Decadent Treats

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Margo's Got Money Troubles

 

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

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

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

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

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

Oops! I Broke the Wizard's Android!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saint-Seducing Gold - Forge & Fracture Saga #2

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

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

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

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

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

Forgetting to Remember

 

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

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

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

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

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

The Corpse In the Closet - Riley Thorn #2

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

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

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

Four stars, funny and engaging. 

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

Keepers of Time - The Keepers of Time Trilogy #1

 

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

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

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

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

You May Now Kill the Bride

You May Now Kill the Bride is an engaging standalone mystery thriller by Kate Weston. Released 23rd May 2024 by Penguin Random House on their trade paperback imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a very dark and sardonic "mean girls" thriller murder mystery. It's written in alternating third person PoV with alternating voices from the main characters (a group of "friends" who are together for a wedding getaway where the bride gets killed). The narrative is choppy and unclear in places with respect to *which* of the suspects (it's a closed circle) is speaking. 

-All- of them are narcissistic, jealous, neurotic, and unpleasant. On the plus side, it is snort-out-loud funny in some places, and the prose is well polished and quite finished.

Three and a half stars (mostly for the few over-the-top laughs and the well rendered prose - there are some technical issues with rapidly changing PoVs, but otherwise it's well written). 

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

The Geomancer's Apprentice - The Geomancer's Apprentice Series #1

The Geomancer's Apprentice is the first book in an entertaining urban fantasy series (and a debut novel) by Yin Leong. Released 3rd Feb 2021, it's 253 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is an action driven, very well written and engaging classic urban fantasy with a hapless but doesn't-know-her-own-strengths female protagonist in a "chosen one" role. She manages to be funny, sarcastic, kickass and vulnerable at the same time and is exactly the kind of person you'd want backing you up in a tight spot or grabbing a chai latte at the local espresso house. Her sidekick/mentor/boss is an appealing "everyman" and adds a lot to the story.

The creepy and violent elements are present but not overpowering to the plot and there's not a lot of blood and gore directly described in the text (though there's a fair bit of description included of past "echoes" of light horror, body horror, demonic possession, etc. Readers who are extremely squeamish probably won't have any trouble reading the level of description included; it definitely won't be problematic for people who enjoy light horror/dark fantasy. 

The fantasy elements and mythology are SE Asian tinged and the author has included a fascinating array of info about Chinese demons, feng shui, and some warmly recounted realities of parental "meddling" and the Chinese mom grapevine in action. 

It's not at all derivative, but fans of Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, and Kelley Armstrong will likely enjoy this one. There are 5 books in the series at this point and it would be a great choice for a long binge/buddy read.

Four and a half stars. It's a very promising series opener, especially since it's a debut novel. The series hit the ground running.

The Queen City Detective Agency

The Queen City Detective Agency is a well written gritty American PI noir novel by Snowden Wright. Released 13th Aug 2024 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is an atmospheric and solid read featuring a black female protagonist who is flawed, loyal, tough as nails, and dogged. It's set in the 1980s in Mississippi and the prose is evocative and rich. The author is adept at characterization and even the more minor secondary characters are three dimensional (often unlikable and quirky, but very well rendered). 

There's a surprising amount of sarcastic cynical humor around a novel populated by villains, cheats, and thieves; where even the "good guys" are exhausted and wryly misanthropic. Although it's not as over the top or as full of no-holds-barred violence, it will appeal to fans of Joe R. Lansdale and James Lee Burke; not derivative at all, but definitely in the same headspace. 

Four and a half stars. Atmospheric, enjoyable, *very* well written (even though it's usually more difficult to recommend a book with a protagonist written by an author who is nowhere near the same demographic (she's black and female, the author is white and male) he really nailed Clem's internal drive and motivations). It would be a great choice for public library acquisition, home use, or a good mystery book club reading selection or buddy read. 

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

The Glassmaker

The Glassmaker is an enthralling and lushly written historical novel by Tracy Chevalier. Released 18th June 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Viking imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is an engaging and meticulously written historical novel which starts in early Renaissance Venice and follows the secret craft of the glassmakers of Murano. It's the story of one gifted young female artist specifically, honing her craft in secret, set against the wider backdrop of the massive political and cultural upheavals of the period.

The prose is beautifully descriptive and polished. It's a classically written, well edited, smoothly engineered machine and although it's not at all derivative, will appeal to readers of classic historical authors like Umberto Eco, Jude Morgen, and Sue Monk Kidd. 

Four strong stars. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library, or book club study. 

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

Death in the Orchard - Trudy Genova #3

Death in the Orchard is the third Trudy Genova cozy mystery by M.K. Graff. Released 18th May 2024, it's a substantial 412 pages and is available (according to the author's bio information) in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format provided for review has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a continuing series featuring an amateur sleuth who's anRN. Generally based in New York city, this time it's set in the Catskills, where Trudy and her detective boyfriend are investigating the cold case murder of her father many years previously. A second, current, murder seems to be tied to the events of the past. 

The language is moderately clean (the secondary characters include Trudy's extended Italian American New York family, so there -are- a couple "f-bombs") and it's a cozy, so the violence is mostly off-page and not graphic. 

Despite being the third book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. There are a myriad of characters, but the author/publisher have provided a dramatis personae at the beginning, so it's easy enough to flip back and forth a bit to keep them straight.

The plot is well engineered and the mystery is mostly "fair play" with followable clues scattered throughout. The author excels at descriptive prose, and the settings are well rendered and believable. There are some slight issues with continuity, and the book would've undoubtedly benefited from a moderately ruthless editing process, but it's definitely readable and entertaining. 

Four stars. It's unclear from the publishers website info if it's still available (or how to acquire) the audiobook and ebook formats, but the paperback is still available.

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

We'll Prescribe You a Cat - We'll Prescribe You a Cat #1

We'll Prescribe You a Cat is the first collection of interconnected vignettes by Syou Ishida. Originally released in Japanese in 2021, this English language translation was released 3rd Sept 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint. It's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a relaxingly cozy, warmly written book with several  vignettes about people whose lives are touched by feline interactions. The "patients" run the gamut from businessmen to a youngster, and it's a redemptive and sentimental read (in a good way). 

The translation work by E. Madison Shimoda is completely seamless and unobtrusive. It doesn't read like literature in translation and although set in Japan with Japanese names and settings, the scansion and prose flow very well in English. 

Four stars. Well written. There are a fair number of cozy Japanese "lifestyle" stories, it's become a popular genre. It's not derivative at all, but fans of The Full Moon Coffee Shop, the Morisaki Bookshop books, and the Kamogawa Food Detectives, will likely enjoy this one as well.

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

Storm Cell - Lewis Cole #10

Storm Cell is the 10th mystery thriller featuring PI/fixer Lewis Cole written by Brendan DuBois. Originally released in 2017, this reformat and re-release from Severn House is not currently available for retail sale. It's worth noting that the ebook format provided for review has a  has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

This is a very well written, tensely atmospheric and very much action driven mystery thriller in a continuing series. There is a lot of courtroom action/drama, and MC Lewis Cole's friend is on trial for the murder of a local politician and philanthropist which Cole is convinced he didn't commit.

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

Four stars, a strong series and a good read. It would make a good choice for a long binge/buddy read. 

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

Ash Dark as Night

Ash Dark as Night is a novel featuring photographer and PI Harry Ingram, written by Gary Phillips. Released 2nd April 2024 by Soho Press on their Soho Crime imprint, it's 241 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out late 2nd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. 

This is a very well written gritty PI mystery set in LA in 1965. Harry captures undeniable proof of routine police brutality against the backdrop of the LA race riots which puts a target on his, Harry's back. Trying to get the proof published in the papers is a daunting nail-biting effort, aided by Harry's gutsy and brave girlfriend.

The book's prose is redolent of the time period and the dialogue is smart and whip-sharp. The cynicism from the main characters is palpable (and expected, given the overt deadly casual racism and economic injustice of the time). 

The mystery is well written and leads to a satisfying (if bitter) denouement and resolution. The author has woven his story around a framework of real life history so skillfully that it's not always clear where history shades into fiction. It's not at all derivative, but the style and story will suit fans of Walter Mosley, Robert Crais, and James Ellroy.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 20 minutes and is capably read by Leon Nixon. He has a well modulated, warm, rumbly baritone and handles the rapid dialogue without fumbles. He delineates the varied characters of both sexes and a range of socioeconomic classes and ethnicities clearly and without confusing the listener.

Four stars. It should be on the acquisitions lists for most public libraries, and would make a good choice for fans of historical PI noir.

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

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying - Dark Lord Davi #1

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is the first book in a new fantasy series by Django Wexler. Released 21st May 2024 by Hachette on their Orbit imprint, it's 432 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. 

This is a funny fantasy full of completely bonkers over the top tropes and silliness. There's a "groundhog day" element where MC Davi keeps getting resurrected to save the universe, only to fail spectacularly (fatally), over and over and over for 1000+ years. She decides to turn the tables and -become- the dark lord instead of trying to fight him. So far so good. 

It's funny, and cleverly written, with whiplash prose and it's full of wry and sarcastic humor. However... it really reads like a female MC *clearly* written by a guy who honestly doesn't have much of a clue what women think, how women think, and doesn't give a crap about trying to find out. She's oversexed, and the book is *full* of sexual sadomasochistic torture, graphic death and violence. For some readers, this will be a feature, not a bug, and honestly, it's written for them.

It's deeply misogynistic (unintentionally?), easily the most violent read of 2024, and unevenly paced. The language and humor are roughly Deadpool-level (not the plot, just the humor and language), and this one is juvenile, raunchy, and intentionally vulgar. 

Three and a half stars. It will find its audience, and will either delight or disgust (or both). It will certainly be picked up for most public library collections, but probably won't be a good fit for school library acquisitions. It would potentially make a good choice for a buddy read (with the right reading buddy). 

There are flashes of homage to John Norman's hysterically awful Gor books scattered throughout, and for those who remember them fondly, this is a worthy torch bearer. 

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

 

The Phoenix Bride

The Phoenix Bride is a beautifully written standalone historical novel by Natasha Siegel. Released 12th March 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Dell imprint, it's 336 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. 

By turns haunting and poignant, it's less of a romance (though there are elements of forbidden romance, with a slow progression), than a deep examination of healing and grief, set against the great London fire and in the wake of the plague. 

The prose is beautifully wrought and is definitely the best part of the book. There's a poetic, dreamlike quality, which comes through even in the most distressing parts (and there are dark and distressing elements - violence, death of a spouse, racism, rigid class systems, and lots of general death). 

The overall story arc is positive and full of redemption, but there's a -lot- of melancholy and sadness along the way. Not a very "up" book.

Four stars, gorgeously written with lush and melodic prose, but darned depressing in places. It would likely make a good choice for book club study, public library acquisition, and home reading. 

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

The Mask of Merryvale Manor

The Mask of Merryvale Manor is an atmospheric, often creepy, psychological historical murder mystery by Pete Sherlock. Released 25th June 2024 by Fairlight Books, 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 and references throughout. 

A coming of age story set in the early 1960s, MC Ben comes to his aunt and uncle after the death of his mother. Having grown up in modest means, he's entirely unprepared for the indolence and opulence of the family, and is by turns fascinated and horrified by his cousins' attitudes of privilege and lack of compassion.

There are elements of gothic horror (a macabre mask positively *looming* throughout the story), bits of psychological thriller, standard English country house murder mystery, cold case disappearance, as well as being impressively redolent of the early 60s. Despite being a real mish-mash of genres, it manages to straddle them quite well and develops into a shocking denouement. There's not much resolution included here and it stops on a dime (quite effectively). 

It's not at all derivative, but there are flashes of Shirley Jackson and Susan Hill. 

For sensitive readers, there are mentions of casual sexual harassment, animal abuse (not graphic, just mentioned in context), political corruption, and war/PTSD. 

Four stars. Well worth a look.

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

 

The City of Stardust

The City of Stardust is a very well written atmospheric fantasy adventure and the first book in a series by Georgia Summers. Released 30th Jan 2024 by Hachette on their Redhook imprint, it's 352 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.Paperback format due out in 1st quarter 2025 from the same publisher.

Told in alternate 3rd person PoV, the prose is the high point of the read. The main female protagonist is by turns extremely (annoyingly) naive and perpetually innocent which wears on the reader after a while. The book is light on world building as well, and it's not always clear when scenes/characters have shifted, yanking readers out of the story. There is also surprisingly little character depth or development, honestly. 

It -reads- like a book of twice the page length, surprisingly, and the pacing is uneven, but the prose is elegantly wrought throughout. It's also bleak, bloody, and violent in places. Not a cozy read. 

It's not derivative (at all), but fans of Laini Taylor and Leigh Bardugo will likely enjoy this one as well.

Three and a half stars (mostly for the odd/draggy pacing and superficial world building). 

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

Burgers & Bacon Cookbook: Over 250 World's Best Burger, Sauces, Relishes, & Bun Recipes

Burgers & Bacon Cookbook is a nice "everyday fancy" compilation of burger recipes, sauces, condiments, and tips collected and curated by the World Food Championships team. Released 4th June 2024 by Fox Chapel, it's 189 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. 

It's a niche cookbook but includes a number of -really- versatile high quality sauces and condiments. Surprisingly, for a burger and bacon cookbook, there are a fair number of meatless vegetarian/vegan friendly recipes included. It's not one -aimed- at the meatfree crowd, but neither will they feel excluded.

The standout really is the versatility. These are specific presentations from competition and cook-off winning chefs, but they can easily be mixed and matched in infinite variety.

Recipes are written with an introduction and background info, ingredients in a bullet list, and step by step prep directions. Ingredient measures are given in imperial (American) units, no metric equivalents. Most items will be easily sourced at any large grocery store in North America, some will require a more specialist/international store, or ordering online.

The high point of the book is the photography. The food is well styled and professionally plated, and the book is *full* of competition photos which are fun and fascinating to look at.

Four and a half stars. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving to a bacon/burger loving friend. There are some recipes included which would also make excellent gifts (Bacon Peppermint Jam for example which is incredibly tasty and versatile). 

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

Murder Most Owl - Magical Menagerie Mystery #1

Murder Most Owl is the first book in a new light paranormal cozy mystery series by Sarah Fox. Released 2nd April 2024 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in Dec 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a very light easy to read cozy romance mystery with significant paranormal elements. There are tie-ins to a long ago unsolved cold case, a current poisoning murder, and lots of animals on MC Georgie's aunt's animal sanctuary (which naturally comes equipped with a handsome mysterious ranch hand as a love interest). 

It's written in first person PoV which is challenging, and there's quite a lot of "telling" instead of "showing" in the writing, but altogether, it's diverting, very light, easy to read, and fun. The language is squeaky clean with one tiny exception) and the violence mostly occurs off the page. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 54 minutes and is capably read by Hallie Bee Bard. She has a well modulated, slightly breathy alto, and for this read, a sort of generic midwest American accent. There are some points where the more rapid dialogue exchanges get a bit confused as far as character delineation goes, but it's not egregious, and it is easy enough to tell them apart that it never becomes confusing. 

Three and a half stars. It's a promising start to a new paranormal/magical realism mystery series. There is a strong element of insta-love between the MC and another character, but as long as that's not a deal-breaker, it's a fun read.

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