Hack Your Kitchen: Discover a World of Food Fun with Science Buddies

 

Hack Your Kitchen is a new food science tutorial and recipe guide in the Science Buddies series for young readers. Due out 2nd Feb 2021 from Lerner, it's 32 pages and will be available hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. All formats have QR code access to extra material including tutorial videos, short articles, and other multimedia content.

This is an engaging and well written guide for young readers (~7-11 years) containing 8 kitchen science experiments illustrating basic materials science and chemistry activities. Each of the tutorials contains safety instructions, tips for adult helpers, tools and supplies, and step by step instructions. The layouts are logical and thought out, with questions for each student to answer themselves. The photography throughout as well as the graphics are clear and colorful. The extra content is well designed and leads to additional questions/answers for further exploration. The book itself is admittedly very short, but the extra online material fleshes the book out fairly well. The book includes a very short glossary and links list for further reading. The choice of human models in the book (while clearly consciously made with editorial considerations in mind) are refreshingly representative and include both boys and girls of a variety of ethnicities. Representation is important at all ages, and I like to see it in STEM books.

This would make a superlative selection for gift giving, home/remote e-schooling science lessons, classroom library, makers' groups, and similar. 

Four stars. 

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

Love Your Gut: Supercharge Your Digestive Health and Transform Your Well-Being from the Inside Out

 

 Love Your Gut is a tutorial and lifestyle guide by Dr. Megan Rossi. Due out 2nd Feb 2021 from The Experiment, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

There's been a lot of focus in the media the last few years on gastrointestinal research and the fascinating things we're learning about how our GI tract affects and informs our overall health. This book is an accessible, science based look at how to interpret our GI health and make improvements which can pay dividends in emotional health, well being, and everything from brain fuction, weight control, metabolic function, immune system, hormonal balances and more. 

The author has an easy to understand style of writing and although she does discuss some of the bio-science and physiology involved, I don't imagine it'll be beyond the scope of the average layperson. The book has a lot of charts and quizzes to fill out to analyze the reader's current gut biome and general gut health as well as a lot of suggestions for improvement. 

The second part of the book contains a number of recipes to help improve the reader's diet and hopefully support and increase gut biome diversity and health. The recipes are arranged thematically: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts as well as a capsule survey of fermented foods (including a good beginner-usable recipe for kimchi, one of my absolute favorite things in the world). The recipes have ingredients listed bullet style in the sidebar. Ingredient measures are given in American standard with metric measures in parentheses (yay!), followed by step-by-step instructions. Tips and variations are included at the end of the recipes. Recipe ingredients are mostly easily found at any well stocked grocery store, but some (gochugaru Korean ground smoked pepper, kefir, and a few others) might require a specialist grocery or online purchase.

The photography is clear and attractively done. Tutorial photos are easy to follow. Serving suggestions and food styling are attractive and appropriate. 

This is a very well written book full of solid information. It would make a superlative selection for readers looking for sensible science based diet and lifestyle information. The book and the writing are blissfully free of faddish outlandish pseudoscience. 

Five stars.

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

Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women

 

Rebel Girls Lead is a collection of short biographies for 25 women in leadership roles. Due out 26th Jan 2021 from Rebel Girls, it's 64 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a well illustrated collection of 25 short biographies of women from a broad number of backgrounds and areas of expertise including supreme court judges, political activists, athletes, artists, resistance fighters, and more. They are drawn from a number of eras, from Cleopatra to Vice-President elect Kamala Harris and from a wide variety of world cultures. The illustrations are simple but recognizable. There are a number of different illustrators contributing to this collection. 

Representation is so important. It's nice to read about these inspiring women (past and present). Worth noting that some of the content contained here was previously published in Good Night Stories
for Rebel Girls, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2, and Good Night Stories for Rebel
Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World.  

Worthwhile. This would make a superlative selection for home use, library acquisition, gifting, or school/classroom library. 

Five stars.

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

The Art of Hybrid Timber Framing

 

The Art of Hybrid Timber Framing is the second edition of a definitive resource for hybrid timber framed homes written by Bert Sarkkinen. Originally published in 2018, this second edition is due out 19th January 2021 and will be available in hardcover format.

There are a plethora of books on planning renovations (or building from the ground up), making lists, finding contractors, and generally (hopefully) making the process as painless and stress-free as possible. Due to the significant sums of time, money, and effort involved, people are well advised to gather as much information as possible beforehand. 

This book provides insight into timber framing and design. The book has a logical and accessible layout - the preface and introduction familiarize the reader with the author's background in the building industry and more specifically, how to use the book to best advantage. Mr. Sarkkinen uses plain (understandable) language to explain concepts without being overly technical or confusing. 

The first section of the book (after the intro) covers the basics: what hybrid timber framing is, why/where to choose it, design considerations, processes for best results, and ugly money situations (and how to avoid them). The second section is full of gorgeous designs in a gamut of styles from small and cozy to some (literally, in my case) jaw-dropping imposing and impressive styles. It's full of beautiful pictures and line drawings throughout. The third section progresses to choosing a builder, money (always a consideration), technical decisions, some safety/design stuff, and some impressive case studies. The addition of a glossary helped me avoid confusion where some terms weren't entirely clear from context.

There's a lot of good material here. This would be a superlative resource for readers considering a new build or an overhaul on an existing structure. It would also make a nice selection for library or technical/trade school acquisition. Five stars.

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

Prince (Pequeña & Grande)

 

Prince is a new biography 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 innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The whimsical and energetic illustrations were well done. The art by Cachetejack is appealing and colorful and supports the text well. The illustrations are bold and full of bright contrasting colors and simple lines, almost abstract, but still easy to identify.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition. The author has included a timeline at the back of the book with some photos and highlights from Prince's life, as well as a very short bibliography including books to explore further.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Prince was an incredibly gifted and accomplished artist and this book is a nice tribute to an iconic entertainer.

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

The Wicked Hour (Natalie Lockhart #2)

The Wicked Hour is the second Detective Natalie Lockhart procedural thriller by Alice Blanchard. Released 1st Dec 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and 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.

This is a character driven procedural thriller. The plot and character motivations are heavily dependent on the fallout from the first book, and as such it didn't work as well as a standalone. The mystery revolves around the abduction and murder of violinists in and around a prestigious music academy. Detective Lockhart (who is still suffering psychological aftershocks from the occurrences in the first book) pulls a homicide case when the nude body of a young violinist is found in a dumpster after the town's annual Hallowe'en festivities. 

There's a lot to unpack here. As stated, the heavy dependence on previous unresolved plot threads from the first book left me feeling somewhat confused and wrong-footed for much of the book. I also got whiplash from how quickly main character Natalie switched emotional gears. She's still suffering brutal emotional trauma and alternately pushing away and trying to repair her relationships, but it was just awkward for me in several places, especially her interactions with her friend/maybe love interest Luke. 

The writing is competent throughout and there are glimmers of compelling style and prose to be found. They're not a majority of the book, but they are there. I liked that Natalie is strong, flawed, and actively trying to work through her trauma and grief. I found it somewhat difficult to really invest myself in the characters apart from Natalie. 

There is a fair bit of graphic description of violence and some (more minor) mentions of self-harm, suicide, sexual assault (GHB, rohypnol), and rough language.

I plan to continue with the series, but I would strongly recommend readers come into this book having read the first book. 

Three and a half stars. 

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

The A to Z of Mindfulness: Simple Ways to Be More Present Every Day

 

The A to Z of Mindfulness is a philosophical and practical treatise on incorporating more mental presence in our daily existence. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Andrews McMeel, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

Arranged as an alphabet primer, each of the letters A to Z contains a concept or observation (A is for Acceptance, B is for breathing and so on), along with some guided exercises to improve learning and integration. The exercises are gently written and presented, such as writing down words which describe how the reader is feeling and focusing on breathing and visualizing thoughts as clouds passing overhead and moving along and drifting away. 

The accompanying art is beautifully relaxing and appealing. Much of it is nature inspired (see cover) and relaxingly simple pastels. In a world which feels increasingly anxiety inducing and out of control, these small exercises and gentle concepts can have a remarkably large positive impact on our daily lives. 

I loved the coloring mandala and a lot of the visualization and breathing exercises. This would make a superlative and thoughtful gift choice or present for oneself. 

Four stars. 

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

Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates: Plants for a Lush, Water-Conscious Landscapes

 

Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates is a tutorial and gardening style guide by Nora Harlow and photographed by Saxon Holt. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 308 pages (print version) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a comprehensive, layman accessible guide to designing and cultivating a garden in summer-dry and winter-wet areas (specifically the Pacific NW and coastal areas). The author expends effort to cover both the climate, topography, the special challenges and benefits of the area as well as taking climate trends (wildfires, etc) into consideration when building a garden plan.

The book also contains a comprehensive compendium of suitable plants with each entry containing the botanical (Latin) name, common name (where applicable), size and spread, where the plants come from, USDA zone info, as well as many cultivars with photos.  The photographs are clear, lush, plentiful, and really well done. Leafing through the book in midwinter is guaranteed to get any gardener's fingers itching to dig in the dirt. It's bursting with colorful plants in rude good health in beautiful display. Individual plant profiles also include information about lesser known cultivars along with good tips for culture, harvest, and use. There's quite a lot of good information here for gardeners from beginner to expert.

There's a chapter with troubleshooting ideas for special needs: small gardens, hot spots, hedges/shrubs, dry shade, etc. Each of the locations contains an alphabetical list of potential plants for each task. Plants are listed with Latin name, common name, and some include cultivars which are particularly suitable. 

This would be a nice addition to the gardener's library. Worth noting for readers, this is mostly slanted toward gardeners in  North America. It will translate perfectly well to the areas of the rest of the world which have similar conditions but adjustments might need to be made for readers outside these areas.

Four stars. 

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

The Runner's Kitchen - 100 Stamina-Building, Energy-Boosting Recipes, with Meal Plans to Maximize Your Training

 

The Runner's Kitchen is a tutorial guide and recipe collection for runners by Emma Coburn. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is an interesting specialized niche training and nutrition book for runners (by an olympic medalist and world champion runner). The layout and language are logical and easy to understand and the recipes are varied and appealing. It also contains a number of meal plan guides which will help readers be more efficient in their food intake and training. An introductory chapter contains a very brief easy to understand overview over the types of nutrients and where to find them, specialized needs for training efficiency and just as importantly, rest and recovery, as well as optimizing condition for race days. This chapter also contains the meal plans for peak training weeks, off/recovery weeks, and race weeks. 

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: morning fuel, brunch favorites, soups salads & sandwiches, main dishes, sides & condiments, and desserts. Recipes contain an introduction, serving size and yields, prep and cooking times. Ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar followed by step-by-step instructions. Ingredient measurements are given in American standard only. Nutritional information provided in a footer at the end of the recipes includes calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein. The author does note special characteristics of ingredients and dishes which have anti-inflammatory properties, complex carbs, etc. 

The photography is abundant and beautifully done showing the author in the kitchen, running, and the prepared food. The food styling is professional looking, attractive and appetizing. 

Four stars. 

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

Cute Chibi Animals: Learn How to Draw 75 Cuddly Creatures

 

Cute Chibi Animals is a tutorial drawing guide for cute chibi animals by Phoebe Im. Due out 26th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This guide has an all-ages accessible format. A short introduction is followed by tools and supplies, very basic techniques, tips and tricks, suggestions for how to use the book, and then the individual drawing tutorials. The tutorials are arranged thematically: land mammals, aquatic & semi-aquatic mammals, birds, and amphibians fish reptiles & more. The tutorials are divided into panels on each page (4, 6, 9, etc) with each box showing the steps culminating in a finished colored animal. The animals are simple and stylistically cartoonish (see the cover) and all are appealing and whimsical. The steps shown in the tutorials are easy to follow and give good results. All of them are beginner accessible and suitable for all ages.

Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book.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 improve their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this.  I will use these to decorate journals and notes for friends.

Five stars. Fun collection.

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

The Bride Wore Black

The Bride Wore Black is a seminal addition to the American mystery noir genre, and the first crime novel written by Cornell Woolrich. Originally published in 1940, this re-formatting and re-release as part of the American Mystery Classics series is due out 5th Jan 2021. It's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats). 

The American Mystery Classics series has unerringly plucked important but potentially lesser known crime gems and presented them (with expert introductory content and commentary) to new generations of crime fiction readers. Although I had read much of Cornell Woolrich's oeuvre previously and was familiar with his work from the pulps (he was incredibly prolific), I had never read The Bride Wore Black. 

The writing is top notch, tense and powerful. Other reviewers have done a much better job than I providing precis, so I'll just say that the entire book was an evocative and diverting read. My only disappointment with the book was with the ending which I felt was flawed and "gotcha" (and very pulp-ish in my opinion). It didn't ruin the book for me, but it did feel somewhat tacked together and outside the bounds of fair play. 

That being said, however, the writing and plotting are classic early noir and very well done. I would recommend it for lovers of noir, American crime, as well as a support text for allied scholastic examination (modern American literature, etc). The erudite and informative introduction by Eddie Muller was a highlight for me. Four stars.

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

Death Drops the Pilot (Chief Inspector Littlejohn #25)

 

Death Drops the Pilot is the 25th Inspector Littlejohn mystery by George Bellairs. Originally published in 1956, this reformat and re-release from Agora Books is 280 pages and available in ebook format (other editions available in other 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 (and the other Agora editions) are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The Inspector Littlejohn books are silver age classics and always deliver a diverting and engaging read. George Bellairs was a master of intricate plot construction and this entry wears its age (nearly 65 years) surprisingly well although this entry is darker than the average for the series. This volume sees DI Littlejohn and his bagman Sgt Cromwell trying to get to the bottom of the disappearance and murder of a ferry captain (mid-trip) whilst sorting out skullduggery and leftover wartime secrets. The plotting is twisty and readers will need to pay attention to have any hope of figuring out whodunnit before Littlejohn & co. This one works fine as a standalone, and readers don't need to have read the previous books in the series to keep up with the plot.

It's really lovely to see these gems being dusted off and re-released to new generations of readers. Bellairs (Harold Blundell) was a gifted writer and a technical master of construction.

Four stars.

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

Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food: Deliciously Doable Ways to Cook Greens, Tofu, and Other Plant-Based Ingredients

 

Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food is a plant based tutorial and recipe guide for vegetarian Chinese dishes curated and developed by Hsiao-Ching Chou. Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Sasquatch Books, it's 272 pages (print edition) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a graphically appealing, well written, and accessible cookbook with an array of vegetarian recipes to appeal to most tastes. I really liked the layout and formatting of this cookbook. The introduction covers the basics, with a good overview of tools, ingredients, techniques, and supplies (which might not be familiar to many western cooks). The recipes which follow are arranged roughly thematically: dumplings (the author is a -virtuoso-), dim sum & small bites, soups & braises, stir-fry, steamed dishes, rice and noodles, tofu, eggs, and salads and pickles. There are a number of gluten-free recipes included (including pot sticker dough!), and these are clearly delineated. As the "egg" recipe section implies, not all the recipes are vegan-compliant. There are some lacto-ovo vegetarian recipes, but they too are clearly labeled. Many of them could be adjusted to become vegan friendly. 

Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the back of the book). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery or international foods store. Nutritional information is not provided.

The recipes and tutorials are well photographed in color. The serving suggestions are very well styled and give visual cooks information about presentation and serving (especially important for cooks who are not familiar with Asian dishes). Essential info, alerts, facts, tips & answers are highlighted in text boxes. The final release version of the book will include an index.

The author's gentle encouragement and wit shine through in the tutorial texts. I am convinced she'd be a really gifted teacher and it would be a lot of fun (and enriching) to be able to take a cooking workshop from her. 

Five stars. There are a large number of really tasty recipes here. We've tried a number of them at home and they've all been tasty and error free. 

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

Bryant & May: Oranges and Lemons: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery (Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit #17)

 

Bryant & May: Oranges and Lemons is the 17th outing for the Peculiar Crime Unit's own odd couple Arthur Bryant and John May written by Christopher Fowler. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 464 pages and will be available in hardcover 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 series as a whole has been and continues to be my favorite humorous police procedural.  The humor is pervasive and the plots are always intelligent and wonky at the same time - so outlandish the solutions of the mysteries seemingly must have a paranormal bent, but they resolve with cleverly mundane skullduggery and "mystery fair play". They're delightful. 

I'm a healthcare worker and my days the last year have been filled with stress and sadness. Reading is my escape and a lifeline for myself and many of my colleagues. This was a welcome break in an otherwise hectic time. It's an ensemble cast, so it was great to get a look-in on the returning characters. The author is undeniably talented with character driven plots and really witty repartee and the book flowed along at such a good pace and was so intricately put together that it was a joy to read.

Each of the books works well as a self contained unit, so while I do recommend reading the entire series as a whole, it's not necessary to have done so to enjoy this volume. This would make a superlative choice for readers of crime fiction, police procedurals, and British crime. Wonderful book. Five enthusiastic stars.  

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

Daughter of the Serpentine (Dragoneer Academy #2)

 

Daughter of the Serpentine is the second Dragoneer Academy novel by E.E. Knight. Released 17th Nov 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint, it's 512 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I've always loved epic character driven fantasy. This is an excellent and very well written addition to the genre. Despite being the second in a series, it worked very well as a standalone novel. The author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without info dumping or spoon feeding his audience. Protagonist Ileth is loyal, intelligent, and brave and despite being patronless, previously uneducated, and from a poor background, she shows she's willing to work for advancement without sacrificing her moral code to achieve her goals. 

Although ostensibly written mostly for the YA/NA audience, I found the narrative enjoyable and very readable and engaging (despite being neither young nor new myself). The technical detail of the writing itself is well controlled and exactingly constructed - the plot moves along at a very good pace and the plot never dragged or lost my interest. The author is clearly adept at his craft. 

This is a wide ranging novel with a large cast of characters. The author has included a list of dramatis personae at the end of the book (though I didn't find myself needing to consult it). 

I read this in the middle of a pandemic. As a healthcare worker, I have faced many long and unpleasant days trying to perform a challenging job under trying circumstances. Reading has been a sanity saver for me (and many of my colleagues). Epic fantasy in my particular case has been a lifeline and a relaxation from a very demanding daily routine. I devoured this book. It could partially be "right book at the right time" but I truly enjoyed this one and fully intend to go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible. 

Five stars. This would make a superlative selection for lovers of fantasy, dragons, strong female character driven coming-of-age fiction, etc. Looking forward to more from this very accomplished author.

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

Epic Air Fryer Plant-Powered Cookbook: 100 Incredibly Good Vegetarian Recipes That Take Plant-Based Air Frying in Amazing New Directions

 

Epic Air Fryer Plant-Powered Cookbook is a tutorial and recipe collection written and developed by Michelle Anderson. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is a beautifully styled and formatted book full of tasty plant based recipes developed to utilize the air fryer. The introduction covers the basics of cooking with the air-fryer and essential accessories as well as tips, tools, supplies, and how-to. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, soups & sandwiches, lunch, snacks & appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts and baked things.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients (not all though, some of the recipe ingredients are vegan substitutions for other products (butter, cheese, chorizo, etc)). Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex and they represent a refreshingly wide variety of world cuisines.

The photography is not abundant; most of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and beautifully 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 and the lack is not crippling.

This is an interesting collection of recipes. It struck me however, that many of the recipes were really things which could more easily be made (and in larger volume) *without* the air-fryer. The recipes also rely very much on store-bought ingredients. Cooks who prefer to cook completely from scratch will have to do some pre-cooking to make the necessary ingredients.

Four stars.

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

The Well of Ice (Inishowen Mysteries #3)

 

The Well of Ice is the third Inishowen mystery by Andrea Carter. Originally released in 2017 in the UK, this reformat and re-release in the USA by Oceanview Publishing is 352 pages and available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats). 

I was impressed how much the isolated setting played in the entire flavor of the novel. The characters are well rendered, three dimensional, and believable. I liked the way main character Ben is compassionate, intelligent, and loyal to her friends. Although this is the third novel in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone for me to not have any trouble following the story or keeping the characters straight. 

The language is relatively clean (there are some assorted "f-bombs", but they're used in context and don't overpower the story). There is implied consensual sexual content but it's -very- lightly written and there's no NSFW content. I did figure out "whodunit" before the end, but it was more a case of reverse-engineering the denouement (which was well written and exciting). 

The spellings and slang are UK standard. There's a fair bit of Irish idiom and dialogue sprinkled throughout, but it shouldn't present any problems in context, especially for fans of UK/Scots/Irish crime fiction. 

Beautifully written, well plotted, an enjoyable and diverting read. I read a *lot* of books for review in the course of a year, and I fully intend to read the first two books in this series asap. 

Four stars. Recommended for fans of Irish crime fiction, legal mysteries, small-town mysteries (though I wouldn't call this one a cozy). 

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

Northern Wrath (The Hanged God Trilogy #1)

 

 Northern Wrath is the first book in a historical fantasy trilogy by author Thilde Kold Holdt. Released 27th Oct 2020 by Rebellion, it's 616 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is epic campaign historical fantasy realism at its best. The plotting is so well crafted and seamless - bound and true to its roots of Scandinavian and Viking history and belief systems that it's difficult to tell where realism ends and shades into fantasy. The characters are wonderfully rendered and believable. It's compellingly written and exactingly put together. I'm frankly astounded and truly impressed that it's a debut novel.

I won't give a precís, other reviewers have done that. I will say that despite being a hefty doorstop fantasy, the action and characters move the plot along at a good pace - I never found the story dragging or overly convoluted. There's a fair amount of graphic violence and some body horror, along with frank descriptions of violence done to animals. 

There will be inevitable comparisons between this book (and presumably the rest of the series) and Harry Harrison, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Brandon Sanderson. I submit that this book compares very favorably and I'm excited to see what's in store in future from this author. Definitely one to watch.

Five stars. Highly recommended to fans of campaign fiction, scandi-fantasy, and immersive doorstop books.  

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

The Everything Easy Vegan Cookbook: 200 Quick and Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Plant-Based Diet

 

The Everything Easy Vegan Cookbook is a compilation, reformat, and re-release of content from several "Everything" Vegan cookbooks from 2010-2019 with included new material. Due out 9th Feb 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 272 pages (print edition) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

I like the layout and formatting of the "Everything" cookbooks. They're easy to understand, generally easy to follow, and full of tasty, relevant, and do-able recipes. This one follows the same format and will be familiar to readers who have used the other books in the series. The introduction gives the basics about veganism, what vegans eat (and why), health advantages, and some nutrition info.

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: appetizers, breakfasts, salads & salad dressings, soups, vegetables stir-fries & sides, rice & grains, classic pastas, miscellaneous mains, tofu, seitan TVP & tempe, and desserts.  Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the back of the book). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Nutritional information is provided for each of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and protein.

Essential info, alerts, facts, and questions & answers are highlighted in text boxes. These will be familiar to readers of other books in the Everything series from this publisher. Few of the recipes include photographs. The photos and serving suggestions which are included are full color, appetizing, and appropriate, but the general lack of photos might be a drawback for some readers.

Four stars (mostly for the lack of photos - so if you don't need them, it would be five stars). This is a general cookbook with a huge variety of appealing vegan friendly dishes. It would make a superlative gift or purchase for readers trying out a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Many of the recipes do rely on pre-processed ingredients (vegan beef, vegan sausage crumbles, etc) - so some planning and adjustment will be needed for cooks who strongly prefer to cook from scratch. All of the recipes I tried on my family were tasty and well received, though I did notice the lack of finish/serving photos.

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

Sketching Techniques for Artists: In-Studio and Plein-Air Methods for Drawing and Painting Still Lifes, Landscapes, Architecture, Faces and Figures, and More

 

In-Studio and Plein-Air Methods for Drawing and Painting is a new volume written by Alex Hillkurtz. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Rockport imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

The author is a skilled and well known storyboard artist who uses cinematic visuals to convey story and context. There is a useful amount of philosophy and technique contained in the instructions here to help artists not only render what they *see* but to tell the story of what they're seeing at the same time. Guided directions help the student convey who, what, where, when, and why in their renderings. 

The layout is straightforward and easy to understand. The introduction includes a survey of the tools, materials, and basic techniques. The following chapters progress through exercise lessons in composition and perspective to give the reader a basic understanding and facility with visual storytelling, contrast, thumbnails, and different perspective views (and which to choose for specific situations). 

The rest of the book provides specialized tutorial lessons grouped roughly thematically: still life, landscape, architecture, figures, and a final chapter showing several watercolor techniques. The book wraps up with an afterword from the author, abbreviated resources and influences lists for further reading, and a short author biography. 

The overall feel of the book is technically rich, useful, and varied and I saw many things which got my fingers itching to jump in and start drawing. I'm not a professional artist by any stretch of the imagination, but there were a number of takeaways here which I will certainly incorporate in my drawing practice going forward.

Five stars. This would make a superlative selection (possibly bundled with drawing supplies?) for gift giving, as well as as a good support text for more formal drawing instruction/learning. The perspective tutorials were especially apt and well written. 

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