With a Minor in Murder

With a Minor in Murder is a standalone romance/mystery by Karis Walsh. Released 10th May 2022 by Bold Strokes Books, it's 252 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a campus murder mystery, full of historical minutiae and academics. It's told in third person PoV and surprisingly well written. There were some plot points on which my suspension of disbelief got stuck, however. I couldn't, for example, find any sources online where campus police ever investigate serious crimes, especially not murder. For readers who get past that hurdle, it's a readable and engaging book. The main characters are well rendered and three dimensional. Most of the secondary characters are lightly sketched in and seem to primarily be there to provide plot advancement. 

I enjoyed the discussions of art and architecture and history. I get the feeling that the author has a deep and eclectic interest in the subject and she does a good job of making it accessible and interesting. Readers who are interested primarily in a murder mystery in a rarefied academic setting (Kate Fansler, Inspector Morse, Hilary Tamar) will likely be outraged and/or disappointed. Readers who are after a lightly drama filled F/F romance which is well written and smut-free will find a lot to like here.

There is no NSFW sexual content. Some of the on-page descriptions are moderately graphic (throat slashing and blunt force trauma). 

Three and a half stars. It's unclear if this is a series starter.

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

The Crown Heist (Lost Art Mysteries #3)

The Crown Heist is the third Lost Art Mystery for middle grade readers by Deron Hicks. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion imprint, it's 303 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well told action-filled art and history mystery for middle grade readers. The story reminded me in some ways of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with a dash of Archibald Finch and a pinch of Dan Brown's Langdon mysteries (although both the kids in The Crown Heist strike me as a lot more intelligent and well organized than Langdon ever did). 

The previous books were set in Washington DC, and this installment sees them traveling to London and soon involved in a dangerous centuries old mystery. The book contains QR code links throughout which lead to museums and historical buildings throughout London with background historical information for keen readers. It's a cool feature. 

Although the mystery is self contained in this volume, I recommend reading the series books in order to get the necessary backstory.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition and home use. 

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

The Best of the Rejection Collection: 297 Cartoons That Were Too Dark, Too Weird, or Too Dirty for The New Yorker

The Best of the Rejection Collection is precisely as stated on the cover - a well curated collection of worthy New Yorker cartoons which didn't make the cut for one reason or another. Released 10th May 2022 by Workman Publishing, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a collection of artists' works along with a short Q&A full of witty answers from each of them. Questions are the same for all contributors with questions ranging from "Where do you get your ideas" to "Have you mooned or been mooned more often in your life?", "What would make a terrible pizza topping?" (some really funny and outré answers), and "What’s the funniest thing that you witnessed, overheard, or came up with that you couldn’t figure out how to use in a cartoon?"

The following pages for each artist contains facsimiles of some of their rejected works. 

The cartoons are funny, irreverent (some very much so), NSFW, or too direct and include things like a grandson berating his grandfather for the lack of color film from Auschwitz, Jesus hanging ten upside down (sans surfboard) on a monster wave, and a surprising number of inappropriate bestiality implications (which I freely admit made me giggle/snort for the most part). 

Four stars. This would make a good selection for public library acquisition as well as for fans of the New Yorker type of sophisticated humor. I confess to not being up-to-date on selection criteria for public library acquisitions in the wake of recent challenges in the USA, but I don't think any of these should pose any real problems, even in the current climate. 

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

Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind

Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind is an exuberant and whimsical illustrated story for the youngest readers. Due out 7th June 2022 from Kids Can Press, it's 36 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is such a fun little book. The masked "bandit" is a cheeky little house chickadee and the story is told from his perspective. The simple (non-rhyming) text by Monica Silvie will be easy enough for the very youngest readers but will keep 5-7 year olds entertained and engaged also. The illustrations by Elina Ellis are colourful and bright and full of small details which invite a closer look. The drawings are digitally rendered but look like hand drawn pastel/pencil style sketches. Very cute. All of the anthropomorphic animals (friends and food!) are drawn with cute faces and poses.

Five stars. This is a sweet book and will be a favourite for reading time (alone or with a family member). It would also make a super selection for school or public library acquisition. 

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

A Lesson in Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #7)

A Lesson in Murder is the 7th Lady Eleanor Swift cozy mystery by pseudonymous writing duo Verity Bright. Released 14th Sept 2021, it's 266 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 (and the rest of the series) are currently included in the KU library to borrow and read for free.

This is such a lightly humorous and refreshing read. The entire series is just perfect for lifting the spirits and entertaining. The style is reminiscent of earlier golden age inter-war mysteries. It's irreverent, with an appealing ensemble cast of amateur society sleuth Lady Eleanor and her butler/dogsbody Clifford whom she inherited along with her title from her late uncle as well as assorted society friends and servants. Gladstone the elderly bulldog also makes an appearance in this installment, despite much of the plot revolving around Lady Eleanor's investigation into murder at her old school, St. Mary's. 

It's a fast and undemanding cozy; the language is clean, the crimes are not written violently or explicitly and the denouement is satisfying and well written. For readers looking for verisimilitude in dialogue and action, be warned, this series is full of modern vernacular and sensibilities. Eleanor fraternizes with the servants and runs a shockingly lax estate.

Four stars, a decidedly exuberant and whimsical romp. There are now 10 extant books in the series, with the 11th due out in August 2022. This is a prime candidate for binge reading. Although each of the books is self contained, I recommend reading them in order (though it's not absolutely necessary).

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

Everyday Cake: 45 Simple Recipes for Layer, Bundt, Loaf, and Sheet Cakes

Everyday Cake is a casual cookbook with 45 recipes developed and curated by Polina Chesnakova. Due out 16th Aug 2022 from Sasquatch Books, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This book really is comprehensively cake-y. There are cakes which are familiar and beloved alongside new-to-me types of cake. I am a huge cake fanatic and I couldn't think of a single type which isn't represented here in one form or another. 

The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: bundt & tube cakes, round cakes, square & rectangular cakes, and loaf cakes. Each recipe includes an introduction, yields, description, equipment, ingredients listed bullet-style in a sidebar with metric and American standard measures included, and step by step specific directions which are clear and easy to follow. Alternatives and special info is included in highlighted in text bars at the end of the recipes.

The photography is superb. Most (but not all) of the recipes are accompanied by one or more color photos. Tutorial/serving shots are clear and easy to understand. The food is well styled and attractive.  This is a classic and comprehensive collection and will be a favorite go-to. 

Five stars. This collection is full of inspiration for gatherings, potlucks, family get-togethers, church/work/buffets and similar dinners. The included grapefruit poppy seed cake with hibiscus glaze is mind-blowing and will definitely be accompanying me to my next departmental gathering.

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

National Geographic Stargazer's Atlas: The Ultimate Guide to the Night Sky

National Geographic Stargazer's Atlas: The Ultimate Guide to the Night Sky is a beautifully, often breathtakingly, photographed and accessibly written guide to the night sky and how to understand what we see when we look up. Due out 25th Oct 2022 from National Geographic, it's 432 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a worthy member of the National Geographic stable of classic coffee table books - absolutely full of beautiful clear photography and packed with accessible information. The early pre-release media package provided for review included a small fraction of the final page content and it's impressive enough that I plan to order a copy for my home library. 

The book contains layman accessible language throughout, lots of diagrams and on-page definitions and explanations. The content is arranged thematically and the chapters move from the vastness of space/stars/celestial bodies, through our own Solar System, to an almanac of stargazing events and maps. Each of the specific constellations and points of interest include maps, best viewing times, locations, and background information.

The photography throughout is stunning. This is a highly recommended choice for public and school libraries as well as for scouting/activity groups, and home use. Stunningly gorgeous and well done. 

Five stars. 

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

The Lava Witch (Dark Paradise Mystery #3)

The Lava Witch is the third modern procedural mystery in the Dark Paradise series by Debra Bokur. Released 31st May 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the e-book format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of e-books with interactive formats lately. 

I've enjoyed seeing this series develop. There's a strong female main protagonist who is intelligent, active, and direct. She's driven and not defined by her romantic interests. She's an interesting dichotomy, both a logical, science based investigator, as well as the granddaughter (and heir) of a well respected Native Hawai'ian spiritual leader and historian. She has a good rapport with her colleagues and uses their strengths to investigate and solve crimes. 

The opening murder in this installment is quite bizarre and ritualistic. It's a modern procedural and as such, there is some moderately graphic content; mostly in the descriptions of the crime and crime scene. Language is mildly PG, a few "damns" and nothing worse.  

It's well written throughout and the descriptions of places and settings are very well done and easy to imagine. Although it's the third book in the series, it works very well as a standalone. The author is adept at providing necessary backstory information without dumping too much info on the reader at once. The mystery is self contained and the plotting is satisfying and complex. The major storyline is moderately foreshadowed, but there were some surprises at the denouement. 

Four stars. Capably written with a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and set in gorgeous surroundings which feature significantly in the action. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, for fans of the genre, and for mystery bookclubs (or for a buddy read).

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

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is a cool action fantasy for middle grade readers by Xiran Jay Zhao. Released 10th May 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their children's imprint, Margaret K. McElderry Books, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the e-book format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of e-books with interactive formats lately. 

This is such a fun adventure. There will be inevitable comparisons with Percy Jackson, Pokemon Go, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, but while the similarities are there, it manages to be its own authentic self without being derivative in the slightest. It's very well written and entertaining and full of the sort of mythology and Chinese history which would have thrilled my 12 year old self and likely kept me up late reading under the covers with a flashlight. 

There are deeper, important messages to be found in the action as well: about fitting in and the dichotomy of being a 1st generation American kid in an area that isn't especially diverse. As an adult reading the book, I got a pang for young Zachary, whose mom doesn't want him to learn Mandarin as a 1st language since she didn't want him to have an accent when speaking English, and his guilt at trying to sneakily compost the packed school lunches she sends with him to school every day since they're not "American" food.

There is quite a lot of Chinese history and folklore I really enjoyed reading about, and I spent some hours afterwards reference hunting online - the author has done a great deal of research. I also liked her exploration of modern day Chinese politics and diversity (all written in age-appropriate terminology and quite understandably). 

Five stars. Genuinely entertaining.  Honestly funny in a lot of places. It would make an excellent choice for public and school library acquisition, and a good choice for bookish middle grade readers. I'm really looking forward to finding out what comes next!

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

Kicking Glass: A Creative Guide to Stained Glass Craft

Kicking Glass is a well written and curated instructional guide for stained glass technique with tutorials by Neile Cooper. Released 24th May 2022 by Bloomsbury on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 176 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The photography is stellar with lushly colorful clear pictures and tutorial explanations. The author provides project lists with tools and supplies and step by step instructions. The book feels like a small, well organized workshop with a well spoken and competent teacher. The projects are varied and attractive and are a mix of more traditional looking and modern. 

There is a significant outlay in tools and supplies for stained glass work, but Ms. Cooper does a good job of listing the necessities as well as some more optional (but handy) tools. Safety is emphasized throughout.

This would be a good introduction for home hobbyists, as well as a useful addition to maker's spaces, studio libraries, group/guild studios, or for gifting.

Five stars. 

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

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is a gentle and nostalgic home-front WW2 historical slice of life romance by Jennifer Ryan. Released 31st May 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in summer 2022. It's worth noting that the e-book format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of e-books with interactive formats lately. 

This is a delightful fictionalized story based loosely on actual events. It's told through three alternating third person narratives: famous haute couture London designer Cressida Westcott, her niece Violet, and a village vicar's daughter named Grace. The book revolves around the privations of war, the creativity and camaraderie of the women in wartime, and their sacrifices and resilience trying to build lives amidst chaos. 

The author does a good job of recalling the stringent conditions of wartime Britain as well as the terror and uncertainty of the blitz in London, even for the wealthy and well connected. Forced together by circumstances, the three women find an important rapport and use their considerable creativity and emotional strength to grow and help one another and their families.

It's very much a nostalgic read, and will no doubt be popular with fans of the genre. Folks who enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls, Call the Midwife, and Lilac Girls will find a lot to love here. The romance subplots don't overshadow the well told story in my opinion.

Four stars. It's a very well told and engaging story. 

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

Gwendy's Final Task (The Button Box #3)

Gwendy's Final Task is the third installment in the Button Box trilogy by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. Originally released in Feb 2022, this paperback format from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint is 288 pages. The book is also available in all other formats. It's worth noting that the e-book format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of e-books with interactive formats lately. 

This is a well told story. I was immersed and engaged from the first chapter and wound up reading it in one sitting. It's linear (although told in back and forth flashbacks throughout), and the characters are simplistic, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. The denouement and resolution are clearly telegraphed from the beginning (more or less), and the ending felt inevitable. 

One of the things I enjoyed most (apart from the engaging storytelling) was finding and identifying the Easter egg tie-ins for King's other works: It, The Dark Tower, Talisman, The Black House, and more. There are a few jump-scares which surprised a squeak or two out of me. There's also a smattering of horror (mostly leftover from earlier readings of King's other books which still have the power to scare, decades after reading). 

As most other reviewers have pointed out, this is a pandemic book, and the authors don't pull punches when it comes to politics and their (King's) unmitigated loathing of the previous American presidential administration. My own feelings are somewhat more incendiary than King's seem to be, so it didn't bother me. Readers who love the "former guy" will probably find their enjoyment of the story significantly impacted.

Four stars. Although it's the trilogy ending, it's self contained and works well as a standalone.  A solid tale. 

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

 

A Sprinkle in Time (Shake Shop Mystery #2)

A Sprinkle in Time is the second Shake Shop storefront cozy mystery by Dana Mentink. Released 24th May 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 360 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I love cozy mysteries, whatever form they take, library, bookmobile, shopfront small town amateur sleuths, professors turned investigators, I'm not picky. Animals are a plus. This one ticks a lot of boxes. The setup is small tourist town shopfront ice cream shop with a once-burned-twice-shy female protagonist in the early stages of a slow-moving romantic relationship with a local man. A much hated local businessman (shades of Snidely Whiplash) turns up dead and Trinidad Jones is determined to see justice done. 

Despite being the second book in the series, the plot works perfectly well as a standalone and introduction to the ensemble cast of fun and eccentric characters. There are a number of appealing facets. The author is adept at plotting and the dialogue never felt overly clunky or precious. The story moved along at a good pace and despite the longer-than-average page count for a shopfront cozy, it never dragged or felt overwritten. I like that the main character is intelligent, driven, honest, and kind. She's also a small business owner and apparently a woman of color (but the author doesn't overemphasize the fact). 

The language is squeaky clean, nary a damn to be seen. There is no NSFW content and the denouement and resolution are well crafted and satisfying. The author has even included a couple of recipes in the back of the book which look intriguing.

Four stars. Definitely one for the fans of small-town shopfront cozies. 

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

The Wizard's Brew

The Wizard's Brew is a rollicking fantasy PI murder mystery by Jordan Reed. Released 24th May 2022, it's 312 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is fantasy noir aimed at the folks who enjoyed the Garrett Files (Glen Cook) and Kevin Anderson's oeuvre. There's a mean streets vibe with a battle worn veteran protagonist sidelining as a PI who gets drawn into a deeply unpleasant magical murder and corruption plot trying to get to the bottom of his friend's death. Main character Kane's an imperfect anti-hero in the classic mold. He's addicted to painkiller potions/drink, has PTSD leftover from the Ghoul Wars, and he's sort of possessed by a sultry voice who lives rent free in his head and provides the sarcastic Greek chorus to his thoughts. 

I found more appeal and a stronger rapport with the book's secondary characters, Kane's ally Alyssa and the goblin alchemist Fex than with the main character. The dialogue is rough, and the writing is choppy and disjointed, staccato really. The whole book would benefit from a couple rounds of editing. Still, the bones of a good story are there and I enjoyed the read overall. I have a special soft spot for PI noir and especially fantasy PI noir and I will definitely pick up and read any follow-ups to the series. 

Three and a half stars rounded up for the good story. I'm looking forward to what comes next.

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

The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide: How to Combine Shape, Color, and Texture to Create the Garden of Your Dreams

The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide is a well written and beautifully curated book of garden design inspiration by Jenny Rose Carey. Due out 5th July 2022 from Timber Press, it's a comprehensive 364 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

My paternal grandmother was my first, ardent, inspiration for a lifelong love of gardening. She was a flower gardener par excellence and just seemed to *know* everything about flower design and cultivation. I've struggled with my own garden design (we all know our gardens will never be "finished"), and this book gets a lot of things perfect. The vibe throughout is competently encouraging and upbuilding. The author's voice is always reassuring and professional, but never condescending or superior. She definitely knows the subject well. There's quite a lot of "showing" and very little "telling" in the book and the chapters are arranged more or less like a one-on-one masterclass with a good teacher. The flower list is comprehensive and something I really liked is that most plant entries also include multiple examples in color to show flower forms, shapes, sizes, and varieties.

The photography throughout is stunning and abundant. Photo captions list particular cultivars with botanical (Latin) and common names. The author has also included a fairly comprehensive links and resources list for further reading. There are numerous specialty retailers as well as lots of fun links for further reading. The index is cross referenced and comprehensive.

Five stars. This book would make a superlative selection for library acquisition, home gardeners, smallholders/truck farmers, gardening groups, allotment gardeners, and other lifestyle readers. This is a passionately written, eminently reasonable, usable guide for garden design using blooming plants as a focus.

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

The Intimate Herbal

The Intimate Herbal is a well written, layman accessible herbal aimed at improving reproductive health, fertility, and related health subjects, written and curated by Marie White. Due out 14th June 2022 from nonprofit North Atlantic Books, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a well written and accessible guide (with recipes and tutorials) for herb use and herbal medicine. The author writes with competence and experience on choosing, processing, and using herbs and the active ingredients they contain. She has included a very useful chapter overview/introduction to the content which allows readers a short quick-start guide to finding content easily and quickly.The volume is extensively annotated and the chapter notes are well written and correct.

The chapters are arranged thematically: a comprehensive introduction is followed by a primer and overview over terminology, basic concepts and discussions on physical sexual health and bodywork. The following chapters cover specific subjects: sexual & reproductive health, intimate health conditions, a comprehensive herbal/materia medica, and finally the recipes.

The tutorials and recipes include tools and ingredients in a bullet style list. Measurements are in American/imperial units only, followed by step by step instructions. The recipes and herbal information included here isn't aimed at culture of individual plants, but more applicable to bought and prepared items. The materia medica does contain both botanical (Latin) name as well as some common names for the selected plants.

The book contains no illustrations. The author has included a resource and links lists, bibliography, chapter notes, and an index. 

Four stars. This would be a superlative choice for public library acquisition, community garden/allotment member libraries, doulas, midwives, holistic health professionals, and the home herbalist gardener's library. 

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

Isolate (The Grand Illusion #1)

 

Isolate is the first novel in a new series by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 608 pages and is available in hardcover, mass market paperback, audiobook, 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. Book two of the series is due out in August 2022.

This is grand space opera mystery with political machination, skullduggery, and corruption. The main character is an Isolate, one of the few people who are immune to manipulation from empaths. As such, he's ideal for security and protection and works at protecting one of the leaders of a powerful political party.

One of the most appealing facets for me was the fact that it was immediately so comfortable...with a few plot/setting changes, it would be at home as a western or a gritty noir PI novel (on the mean streets of NYC). It's visceral, perennial, it's engaging, and familiar. There's nothing morally bankrupt or emotionally ambiguous with the protagonists here. Having emphasized how traditional the writing and plotting are, I will say that true to form, there's not a lot here to challenge the boys' club feel of a lot of golden and silver-age science fiction, with the exception of a female partner and the strong (not entirely positively rendered) wife of the main character. It's not John Norman (Gor novels) by a long shot, but neither is it Octavia Butler.

 

Overall: Engaging, well written, occasionally stilted dialogue, high political science fiction. I recommend it for readers looking for alternatives to early Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Larry Niven, and the other boys in the band. Four stars.

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

The Murders at Fleat House

The Murders at Fleat House is a well written British crime procedural by the late author Lucinda Riley. Released 26th May 2022, it's 344 pages (print) and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. 

This is a well constructed British murder police procedural featuring an intelligent and strong female lead. The characterisations are nuanced and believable, the plotting is especially twisty and engaging with several disparate subplots in flashback which are not explained in context but intertwine throughout the book to a very well done climax, denouement, and one of the best (and most satisfying) resolutions I've read in a while. 

This would have been a very promising start to a new series, but was unfortunately released by her family posthumously. 

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, as well as for fans of modern British procedurals. Spelling and vernacular are British English, but won't pose problems for readers who are outside the UK.  

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

Barnabas Bopwright Saves the City

Barnabas Bopwright Saves the City is an engaging middle grade/YA fantasy by J. Marshall Freeman. Released 10th May 2022 by Bold Strokes Books, it's 304 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a straightforward quest coming-of-age fantasy with a heaping dose of blindly stupid adults running around and messing everything up. The titular main character is 15 years old and deeply hormonal. That's fine, but I had a lot of trouble finding him likeable or relatable to any meaningful degree. 

This is a one-stop-shopping experience which combines a quirky blend of subgenres - the author has dabbled here with magical realism, a bit of fantasy, a bit of quest driven coming-of-age, some mock gothic children's fiction (think Lemony Snicket), and some academy/school slice-of-life vignettes. I never felt sure what the target demographic was. Much of the writing felt very middle grade-ish, but there are a number of sexual innuendos and some more mature subject matter than is probably appropriate for the average 12 year old. I have no problem with bi-positive and bi-curious characters, but in this case, Barnabas is not a particularly fun or appealing character in and of himself. 

There are a number of plot devices which I found poorly explained and not particularly believable (if they know about Tokyo and New York, how can they not know about the valley below The City). 

The author does write engagingly and well, and I liked the off-kilter tone of the book. The characterizations and dialogue were rough in places, however. 

Three and a half stars. Not sure who I would recommend it for - possibly YA/older teens who enjoy magical realism. 

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

Florida (Visual Explorer Guide series)

 

Florida is a volume in the Visual Explorer Guide series, this volume curated and written by John Crippen. Due out 14th June 2022 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in flexibound format. 

This is an attractive and well written guidebook to Florida. The entries are arranged roughly geographically: Miami and the East Coast, Miami and the East Coast, Everglades and the Florida Keys, and Orlando and Around. Each chapter is further divided into specific attractions. Each of the entries contains location info with a short bio of the place. Additional information such as webURLs, maps, times to visit, etc, are not included, but the info will be easy to locate with an internet search.

The photography is abundant and clear. The photos are nearly all stock photos; all photo credits are included in the back of the book.

Four stars. It's a competently curated look at one of the planet's major tourist destinations in the USA and it's full of really well presented photos of iconic locations. It would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition as well as for home use in the early planning stages for a holiday. It's not really a guidebook, per se.

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