I have a distant memory of reading "The Night Circus" more than 10 years ago, but much like the novel itself, it remained a mystery. I decided to reread it (and since I remembered only that a circus was involved - which I think I just gathered from the title - I was essentially reading... Continue Reading →
Empire of Sand: the books of Ambha by Tasha Suri
So much of the fantasy books I have read come from a European tradition. So I was quite intrigued when I stumbled upon Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand, and the synopsis talked about daiva and desert nomads, rather than dwarves, elves, or other creatures of faerie. Empire of Sand tells the story of Mehr, the... Continue Reading →
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Many fairy tales involve the woods, often warning young children to stay away because bad things like monsters dwell there. But what if the woods itself was the actual monster? That’s what Naomi Novik explores in Uprooted. Sure, there are a few traditional monsters ready to drag you kicking and screaming into her malevolent... Continue Reading →
Book of Speculation by Ericka Swyler
This book was picked up and read on a whim based entirely on the title and cover art. Yes, I judged a book by its cover and am very glad that I did. It takes a wild combination of libraries, books, mermaids, and carnivals and twists it all into an intriguing tale. With a mysterious... Continue Reading →
Fire in the Blood by Erin M. Evans
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Forgotten Realms book. But the blurb for Erin Evans’ Fire in the Blood sounded really good. Unfortunately I didn’t realize it was book four in Evans’ Brimstone Angels series, which made the first fifty pages a bit tough to get through. But once you’re past all the back... Continue Reading →
Midnight’s Children, by Salman Rushdie
This is no Days of Our Lives, sand through the hourglass, kind of book where you can skip massive chunks and still be ahead of what’s going on. Allow your mind to drift off to contemplate what you’re having for supper or the blue fluff in your belly button, and you’re finished. This is a... Continue Reading →
If You Could See Me Now
Everyone needs a little magic in their lives, but for Elizabeth Egan, life is black and white .She's raising her nephew Luke, caring for her irresponsible flighty sister,cheering up her permanently depressed father and working 24/7 to pay the bills. So when her nephew comes home with Ivan his imaginary friend,from "Eveileb Ekam", she's sure... Continue Reading →
That Old Black Magic
Stories about magic are as old the first humans gathered about the campfire, we read fairytales to children and teens gravitate to fantasy novels, but somehow no matter how old we get the fascination with magic and the otherworldly remains. Whether it is the magic of love, of food or of birth, the link between women... Continue Reading →