My 2020 Reading Stats and Favorite Reads

2020 will undoubtedly be remembered as the year of the pandemic and isolation. It is the year of working and schooling from home, of not being able to travel or see friends. But because of mostly staying in, this was also the year, I read and worked on crafts more than ever before. In terms of the number of books and pages, I surpassed all of my previous results: I read 135 books or 43,644 pages. My previous best was in 2017: 127 books or 37,872 pages. 

Here are some additional stats about my reading this past year:

I read 12 classics, 11 non-fiction books, 35 fantasy, 23 romance novels, 15 Sci-Fi and 18 historical fiction books. In terms of age, 85 were adult books, 36 - YA, and 14 middle grade. I read 55 books in paper, 55 as an e-book and 25 audiobooks. I read and reviewed 30 advanced reading copies for NetGalley.com (these are books that are provided by publishers in advance of official publication dates in exchange for an honest review). Finally, I read 49 books from my local library and 85 were my own.

Now let's take a look at the books that made a lasting impression on me. They are the ones I still think about and consider my favorites of the year (listed in no particular order):

1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

2. The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

3. The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little

4. The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant

5. The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

6. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

7. Submission by Michel Houellebecq

8. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

9. The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

10. The Lost Diary of Venice by Margaux DeRoux

11. The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

12. Agent Sonya by Ben MacIntyre

13. The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley

 

"The Chanel Sisters" by Judithe Little

The Chanel Sisters is a fictional account of the life of three Chanel sisters: the famous Coco (nee Gabrielle) Chanel, her older sister Julie-Berthe and the younger Antoinette. According to the author's note, very little is known about Antoinette. She was clearly very close to Coco for most of her life, from their time in a catholic orphanage to the establishment of Chanel Modes boutiques. Because Coco always adamantly tried to hide her humble origins, biographers had to piece things together from various records and accounts of others. Judithe Little focuses her story on Antoinette. She is always a bit in the shadow of her famous sister but is never truly overshadowed. She stands on her own. Little did largely imagined what Antoinette's personality was like. She also invented key biographical aspects of her life. Nonetheless, her Antoinette made sense to me. Her story was rags to riches and both tragic and romantic. In some ways, she makes a better heroine than Coco because so little is known about her. 

Overall, I thought the story was engaging. The pacing was good. I did not feel that the narrative dragged. I enjoyed the plot itself as well as all the tidbits about the fashion, culture and events of the early 1900s. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

December Holiday Reads: Five Books

I do love the idea of seasonal reading: beach reads for summer, dark academia for fall, supernatural tales for October and then of course, we have Christmas books for December. This year, I managed to read 5 books that are set around Christmas (and it is not the end of December yet!). Below I am including the five titles and their brief summaries. Some of them are better than others, but overall, I was glad to have read some holiday-themed stories. These are listed in the order that I read them.

1. A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer

This novella was my favorite out of this bunch, and it is probably because it is the most Christmassy of all. It is set right before Christmas on the island of Nantucket in Massachusetts. There are plentiful descriptions of Christmas decorations and foods. The weather is also very wintry. In addition, the book revolves around a rather engaging family drama, and there is also a puppy in need of a home. Overall, it was cozy and heartwarming. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

2. A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

This was my second book by this author, and so far I have enjoyed her writing. She writes wholesome clean romances set in Victorian England. This particular novella is no exception. It is a Victorian romance and will appeal to Elizabeth Gaskell's fans. I definitely got distinct North and South vibes while reading it. Could we also take a moment to appreciate this cover? It is festive and absolutely beautiful. This was a 5-star read for me.

3. A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry

Anne Perry is quite a prolific mystery writer, so if you like mysteries, chances are you have heard of or read some of her books. This was my second book by this author. She apparently has quite a number of Christmas mysteries. The plot itself was not anything gripping. However, Perry is a master of writing characters. Even though it is a novella and is just over 200 pages long, Perry manages to paint very well fleshed-out main characters with enough background for the reader to feel immersed in the story. It is a closed-circle mystery set in the 1930s in England. There is not a lot emphasis on festivities even though the party has assembled at a country manor house for the purpose of celebrating Christmas. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. I am frankly much more fascinated by Anne Perry's personal history than by her work. If you don't know, at the age of 15 she and her close friend murdered the friend's mother. Perry served 5 years in prison for her role in the murder and then changed her name. The truth about her past was not revealed until the 1990s when a movie was made based on this incident.

4. Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler

This is a quintessential holiday romance, similar to the Hallmark channel movies. It is set in a fictional town of Moose Springs, Alaska, and focuses on the budding relationship between Lana Montgomery, whose family owns pretty much all businesses in town, and Rick Harding, the owner of a local pub. The author apparently has a series of books all set in this town. Each book features a different couple. This particular one is book 2 in the series but you can definitely read them out of order. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend this format.

5. One Day in December by Josie Silver

This book is a contemporary second-chance romance set in the UK. Laurie and Jack see each other very briefly one December evening when she glances out from a crowded bus and sees him outside at a bus stop. All they do is look at each other but at that moment she inexplicably feels a deep connection or a recognition and resolves to find him. She eventually does meet him in person, when her best friend and roommate Sarah introduces him to her as her boyfriend and the love of her life. The book is not really centered on or around Christmas. In fact, we follow Laurie and Jack for a number of years while they wind their way back to each other. At times, this book really frustrated me, at other times, I really did not like Jack as a character. In the end, what I really loved about the book is the ending. It is magical and truly worth the read. 4 out of 5 stars. 

"Ten Rules for Faking It" by Sophie Sullivan

Ten Rules for Faking It is a contemporary romance novel which I received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It is always tricky to rate a romance novel. I tend to give them a star rating based on my level of enjoyment and if there were any particular aspects in the plot that I really liked. Ten Rules for Faking It ended up being a 3 star book for me. Here are the things that I really liked:

The main character Everly has a severe social anxiety. I thought the author did an amazing job describing Everly's panic attacks and her struggles with anxiety. I don't think I've ever encountered such vivid descriptions in any other book. I also really enjoyed Everly's relationship with her friend Stacey. Finally, the hero and the main love interest Chris is a truly swoon worthy character. His ability to understand Everly's anxiety and read her mood is uncanny. Obviously, romance novels rarely have realistic heroes. Chris is young, rich, understanding and completely in love with Everly. She on the other hand, does act quite unreasonably on several occasions towards him in second half of the book, and his patience and loyalty were truly astonishing to me.

In terms of the shortcomings, I think this book could benefit from some editing. I think at least 50 to 75 pages could be edited out. The author gets way into too much detail on what the characters think or feel and gets overly repetitive on some points. I think she might lose some of the readers who read a lot of romance because they will simply get bored with unnecessary descriptions. 

Finally, I would like to note that this is a clean romance. There are no explicit sex scenes and the entire relationship is quite slow developing and angsty. Overall, I did like the book and as I already mentioned the anxiety representation was outstanding. 

"The Silent Companions" by Laura Purcell

I have owned a copy of this book for quite some time now, and finally picked it up earlier this month. I loved it so much that I immediately ordered another novel by Laura Purcell and hope it will be just as good. The Silent Companions is a delicious mix of a Gothic ghost story set in a Victorian period, a twisted family drama, and a spooky thriller that will make you jump at every sound if you stay up late reading this book.

Our main character Elsie Bainbridge is newly widowed and moves to her husband's estate in the country. Her husband died there quite suddenly and of unknown causes. So Elsie not only has to deal with the shock of his death but also the disturbing history surrounding the house, which she slowly begins to uncover. Finally, Elsie and her husband's cousin Sarah, who moved to the estate with her, discover that the house has silent companions - wooden cutouts with people painted on them. Needless to say, these companions are quite creepy and seem to have a mind of their own.

The book is beautifully written and the plot if quite immersive. Purcell is a master of suspense. I was often at the edge of my seat compulsively (albeit with my heart pounding) reading page after page trying to find out what is going to happen next. I also liked that the author ties all the loose ends at the end in a nice neat bow. So you shouldn't worry that the book will have an open ending. I felt the ending was quite satisfying, and I overall very much enjoyed this book. 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend.

"A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman

I am definitely late to jump on the Fredrik Backman bandwagon! As any voracious reader, my to-be-read pile is so huge that it is impossible to keep up with all the books that get a lot of buzz. However, as far as I can tell every single book that Backman has put out to date has been extremely well-received by readers. 

A Man Called Ove is a story of a 59-year old man whose wife recently died and now he has also been asked to retire from work. He has no other family and is struggling with finding purpose in life. Ove is an extremely likeable character. He is grumpy and set in his ways, but also has an innate sense of justice and desire to be helpful to others (even if he himself would never admit caring much for other people). 

His life begins to take a new turn when new neighbors move in next door and unexpectedly invade his space, his time and, yes, eventually, his heart. This book made me laugh out loud and also shed a quiet tear. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, just like real life. It is about finding meaning to one's existence but also realizing what it means to live a meaningful life. Ove is not a man of many words, and when he does speak, he does not always say the most politically correct or polite things. However, his actions, the way he selflessly helps others, speak much louder than any words ever could. 

I adored this book and the characters. A truly new favorite. All the hype that Fredrik Backman is receiving is hands down well-deserved. 5 out of 5 stars. I will definitely read more from this author. 

"Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen

Her Royal Spyness is the first book in Rhys Bowen’s mystery series set in the 1930s London. The book is featuring Lady Georgiana (or Georgie), an impoverished cousin of King George V, who needs to either get married or find some way to support herself. Georgie is 21. Her brother, due to the dire financial situation that the family estate is in, can no longer support her, and the Queen is busy trying to find a “suitable” match for Georgie. 

This book was delightful. It is filled with humor poking fun at the upper class’ inability to do even the simplest tasks, such as locking the door when they leave, or figuring out how to light a fire in a fireplace. Georgie, in her attempt to avoid getting engaged to an unlikeable European royal, flees to London and attempts to live as a common person. While struggling to earn a living, she also encounters and helps solve a murder mystery. 

I really enjoyed this first book. It is funny and heartwarming, a truly cozy read. I will definitely continue reading more in this series especially since I heard that subsequent books are even better. 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend.

Reading Classics: "The Warden" by Anthony Trollope

Anthony Trollope was a contemporary of Charles Dickens. However, his books are definitely not as widely known or read as those of Dickens. The Warden was my first taste of Trollope's writing and I absolutely loved it. In fact, compared to Dickens, Trollope's style (at least for me) is much more accessible. I was a bit cautious about this particular novel. I did not want to skip it because it is the first in his Barchester Chronicles. However, I knew that the subject matter revolved around some very period-specific Church of England issues, specifically stewardship of endowment funds, and I was apprehensive that the book might be too dry or hard to follow. 

I am glad to report that those fears were completely baseless. Even though the book is focused on issues pertaining to endowed funds management, at the center of it is a moral struggle. In addition, the entire situation is very clearly explained and presented, and even though the events that are described would have transpired close to 150 years ago, I had no trouble understanding the issues or following the events. However, what makes this book truly timeless (just as any other classic) is the fact that the focus is squarely on the characters, their moral dilemmas and choices.

I do believe, it is better to go into the book not knowing much more about the plot. I really enjoyed following the characters' journeys and observing them interacting with each other and making choices. If you tried some other classics before and found them to be boring, long or just insurmountable, I would highly recommend checking out Trollope. The Warden in particular is quite short, beautifully written and has an interesting moral conflict at its core. I am definitely planning to read more of Trollope's books and in particular, I will be continuing with his Barchester Chronicles. 5 out 5 stars. 

"A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem" by Manda Collins

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is a mystery novel with some romance elements set in Victorian England. Our main character Lady Katherine Bascom is a young widow who owns a newspaper. She and her friend Caroline Hardcastle (or just Caro) decide to start a new column called "A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem" which would focus on topics that are traditionally off-limits to women. Their inaugural column would cover a string of murders in London by a so-called Commandments killer. As they start interviewing witnesses, the two ladies find themselves in the middle of the investigation.

This novel did have many of the elements that I usually enjoy in a book: a feisty heroine, a murder mystery, a period setting, etc. However, I would caution readers that the book is not strictly "of the time period". It is definitely written for the modern audience. In addition, the mystery aspect was not well developed. Lots of clues were discovered by chance. In fact, Lady Katherine just happened to travel to the Lake district at the same time that murders moved there from London, and she just happened to stay in the mansion tied to the killer. 

Overall, it is an enjoyable enough novel, but I don't think I will be continuing with the series. I do think the author did a good job with the romance plot line but the mystery aspect was rather weak.

3 out of 5 stars. An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Comrade Koba" by Robert Littell

Comrade Koba is a story about a 10-year old boy Leon who lives in the famous House on the Embankment in Moscow - a large apartment building known for the fact that many of its famous residents were arrested during Stalin's purges in the 1930s and 40s. Leon's father was a physicist who died when one of his experiments went awry, and soon after Leon's mother gets arrested as part of the infamous "doctor's plot" -- a drummed up case against some medical professionals working in the Kremlin who were wrongly accused of plotting to kill Stalin. 

Leon and several other children keep living in the secret passages of the building after their parents are taken away by the NKVD.  One day, Leon has to take an underground passage into the city in order to sell one of his mother's paintings and on the way back he takes a different turn and ends up in Stalin's apartment. If you suspend your disbelief that (a) one could just wander in there, and (b) that the security officers guarding the place actually let him in, the rest of the story is pretty interesting.

During his multiple conversations with Leon, Stalin reveals facts about his childhood, his years as an underground revolutionary, facts about his relationships with his wife, children, Lenin, Trotsky, Kirov and other historic figures. I would say if you don't know much about Stalin, this is a great overview of his life and an insight into how troubled and paranoid his was for most of his life. It was especially interesting to view these encounters from the point of view of a little boy who did not know who he was speaking with. In his innocence, he says things that no one else would ever dare say to Stalin, and thus acts as a conscience of sorts for the reminiscing dictator.

5 out of 5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an e-ARC for my review.

"Instant Karma" by Marissa Meyer

This is a new young adult contemporary romance novel and Marissa Meyer's first foray into this genre. It is an enemies to lovers story, which also has a superpower and a mystery in the mix. 

Our main character Prudence gets a C on her biology project and all because she and her lab partner Quint were unable to work together. Prudence is determined to re-do the project over summer, but to do that she needs to learn to get along with Quint. In addition, she suddenly gets an ability to deal karmic justice to anyone who she witnesses being cruel, rude or unfair. 

I ended up really enjoying this story. It is light, heart-warming and funny. I got an advanced audiobook copy, and my only complaint is that when I sped up the audio above 1.0x, the quality of sound goes down: it sounds as though two people are speaking at the same time. 

Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. The book will hit the shelves on Tuesday, November 3.

"The Year of the Witching" by Alexis Henderson

This is Alexis Henderson's debut novel, and I would say it is a pretty solid one. If you are looking for experimental writing or a mysterious setting, this is not the novel to pick up. In fact, in some ways, I thought the structure and the plot were pretty pedestrian and did not present anything new.

The setting is a remote village called Bethel, reminiscent of a pilgrim settlement in colonial America. The society is quite religious and run by the Prophet who is the head of the church and the local administration. The church's deity is called the Father, and the Prophet is the only one who can communicate with Him through visions. 

The village of Bethel is surrounded by a sprawling forest which is said to contain the dark power of the Mother (the opposite and dark side of the Father). Villagers are warned against going there lest they be attacked or seduced by powerful witches living in the woods.

Our main character Immanuelle Moore does venture into the darkwood one day and meets the witches she has heard about her entire life. Her encounter with them leads to unleashing of a curse that Immanuelle's mother placed on Bethel as revenge for killing her lover. 

I did like the main character and enjoyed the story. Even though I did think that some aspects could have been explored more. For example, the Prophet and his heir both have visions in the book. However, those visions do not provide any useful information. They are mentioned, but seemingly have no purpose. Seemingly, I could not understand why Immanuelle chose to make a deal with the Prophet in the end of the book instead of stealing the dagger she needed. Esther could have helped her. 

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a solid fantasy novel that explores the power of dogmatic religion and blind faith. I would love to see what else the author will produce in the future.

"Agent Sonya" by Ben Macintyre

I listened to this non-fiction book (read by the author) and it was brilliant. It is a biography of one of the most successful Soviet spies of the WWII era Ursula Burton nee Kuczynski, or as she was known in Moscow: Agent Sonya. Ursula was born in a family of Jewish intellectuals in pre-war Germany. In her teens, she became interested in communist ideas and remained a staunch Marxist her entire long life. In the 1920s and 30s, even before Germany fell to the rule of fascists, Ursula considered the Soviet Union to be the country that represented her ideals of the social and economic order and was determined to help spread its ideology in the hopes of bringing the communist revolution to other countries. When her husband was sent to Shanghai for work, she became friends with foreign communists in residence there and eventually was recruited by the Soviet intelligence to spy for the USSR. 

I was very impressed to find out that she worked for and alongside with Richard Sorge, one of the most notorious and venerated Soviet secret agents. Ursula underwent training at the Soviet intelligence school in Moscow, and carried out successful intelligence work in China, Poland, Switzerland and finally Britain. She recruited, trained and oversaw a wide network of agents, and went undetected by numerous intelligence agencies throughout Europe. Her crowning achievement was helping gather scientific information that allowed the Soviet Union to build the atomic bomb. 

This book is truly fascinating and reads more like a thriller or a spy novel than a true biographical account of someone's life. I highly recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars.  

"Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco

Kerri Maniscalco is the author of the highly popular Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I personally never read those books so Kingdom of the Wicked is my first novel by this author. This is the first book in a YA dark fantasy trilogy. I think it will definitely appeal to the fans of The Cruel Prince trilogy by Holly Black. Only in this case, we deal with Italian folklore, witches and demons, rather than Celtic myths, humans and fairies. 

Our main character Emilia is a strega (or witch). Witches in this world are not human even though they inhabit the human world. There is some secret surrounding the birth of Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria, some prophecy that their grandmother hints at but does not reveal until much later in the story. Since early childhood, the girls are warned of the Malvagi, the Wicked demon princes of the underworld. Emilia does not really believe any of her grandmother's warnings, until one day her world falls apart. She finds her twin brutally murdered and a mysterious stranger hovering over the body.

You are really better off going into this not knowing much beyond this. This novel is a mix of fantasy, mystery thriller and dark romance. As such, it is compulsively readable. This is one of very few books that I could not put down well into the night even though I had to get up for work early the following morning. Maniscalco is great at monopolizing the reader's attention. Each chapter has just enough of a cliffhanger in the end for you to want to quickly move on to the next one, and then the next one, until it is 2AM and you have to finally turn off the lights. 

I really liked the plot and the pacing. But I did have a few problems with the characters. First of all Emilia herself with her bouts of anger and irrational behavior, seemed a little too unhinged. The book does depict grief and depression in a very realistic way, but I always have trouble connecting to the characters who can blindly fly into rage, or believe the words of an unreliable character while distrusting others who have built up a record of credibility. That seems to me as poor judgement at the very least or plain foolishness at the worst. 

Now, the demons. They were truly glorious, except... too human and vulnerable, especially Wraith. Since the book is written from Emilia's point of view, we spend a lot of time in her head and thus, get only her jumbled view of his motives and actions. I do wish we could learn more of what he was doing while not with Emilia - that part of the story was never revealed. I hope we will learn more in the sequels. 

Another aspect that bothered me was the family dynamic. In the beginning of the story, we have a very overprotective grandmother and a seemingly close-knit family circle. About a third into the book, everyone inexplicably allows Emilia roam the city on her own even as the witches begin to die. Her parents even though mentioned in the book, have no role in the story whatsoever other than being held as hostages by an evil demon who is trying to bargain with Emilia. Disappointing. 

The romance was  probably the best part of the story, although with the cliffhanger ending, it is really hard to say where it is going. And yes, this is another thing to be aware of: the book ends on a cliffhanger. Not my favorite type of ending, especially since we'll now have to wait for at least a year to see what happens next. But, at this point, I think we might have a Hades and Persephone type story set up for book 2. 

4 out of 5 stars. Very enjoyable with a few minor flaws.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Black Sun" by Rebecca Roanhorse

I must admit, it took me a couple of days to get into this newest fantasy novel inspired by civilizations of pre-Columbian Americas. But once I got pulled into the story, there was no turning back. I just finished the book a few minutes ago and boy, do I wish I had the sequel to dive into! Luckily for me, this is the first book in a series but I'll have to wait a while, since book 1 is only just coming out tomorrow.

But let's look at the story. Our main hero Serapio from the early age was groomed to become a vessel for the Crow God. Powerful rituals, mutilation, blood sacrifice and grueling training were all part of his upbringing and path towards fulfillment of his destiny - vengeance for his clan and destruction of the Sun Priest. If you like anti-hero origin stories, this might be the one for you. 

Overall, the story has an expansive and fascinating world with complex religious and political structures, occultism, magical creatures, witches and powerful beings. I am by no means an expert on the fantasy genre, but as someone who reads voraciously across genres, I can confidently say I have never read anything like this book before. Not only is the world unique, the author also took special pains to avoid familiar tropes often used in fantasy. The reader might think where the story is going or might expect a particular twist in the plot, just to have their expectations shatter and be swept by the story anew.

5 out of 5 stars. A truly epic tale, unforgettable cast of characters and a unique and amazing world.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren

This is the fifth book that I've read by the author duo who go by Christina Lauren, and hands down, this one is my favorite of the ones I've read so far. I do think that they are slowly moving away from purely romance-centered plots to the ones that are focused on universal themes of finding one's purpose in life and the meaning of happiness. In this particular novel they also explore the possibility of life being a lot bigger and more mysterious than we know. 

Every year for as long as she can remember herself, and even before then, Mae spends Christmas holidays with close family and friends in a remote cabin in Utah. The group is always the same: her favorite people in the entire world, including a man she's had a crush on since she was 13. This year, however, the holiday ends on a soul-crushing note: her parents' life-long friends who own the cabin decide to sell it. In addition, Mae had made an awful mistake of making out with the wrong brother. Theo is the same age as her and they've been friends since they were babies, but Mae has always been in love with his older brother Andrew. The night before the entire party was scheduled to leave, she and Theo had too much eggnog and ended up kissing in the mudroom. Both regretted it, and in fact, Theo refused to even talk to her about it the following morning. Unbeknown to both of them, Andrew saw them together and assumed that they were now an item. 

On December 26th, on the way to the airport, Mae is so overcome with grief and disappointment that she sends a silent plea to the universe to show her what would make her happy. What happens next sounds a lot like the plot of the Groundhog Day. Mae wakes up on the airplane on December 20th, on the way to their annual Christmas retreat which she had just lived through. For the rest of the novel, we follow Mae as she desperately tries to figure out what makes her happy and wrap her head around this second chance the universe has handed her.

5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely loved it. It made me laugh and cry. Definitely a new favorite and a great holiday read.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass" by Adan Jerreat-Poole

This is a new YA fantasy novel. Eli is a witch assassin who is sent by the Coven to the human world to kill ghosts. Witches in this world live in a parallel reality of sorts - it was never precisely explained where their realm is, but getting there is complicated and includes going through some sort of vortex. One day, Eli follows the mark but something goes horribly wrong and she realizes that instead of a ghost, she killed a human. The story takes off from there. Eli makes new friends in the human world and begins unraveling the secrets of her own reality.

This book definitely had a lot of potential. However, my main problem with it was the writing. I felt like the author never fleshed out the world or the characters. Lots of things remained vague throughout the book which was super-confusing and distracting. It gave the impression of being a rough draft rather than a finished novel. Perhaps it's just the author's style, but I don't think it is for me. It is a fairly short book though so I ended up just powering through the last 40% or so. Had it been longer, I would have definitely DNF'ed it. I gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars. An interesting premise, poor execution. I will not be reading the sequel.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

I have always liked Viking myths and legends so when this version by Neil Gaiman came out, I was immediately interested. Norse mythology can be quite grim and bloody. Some of it is definitely present in this book too. However, Gaiman also makes these myths sound modern and very approachable. If you are looking for a book on Norse mythology, this is a great place to start. It'll give you a nice overview of the pantheon and major stories. This book also has an added benefit of being well written with a keen sense of humor and mystery of life. 

One thing that strikes me about Norse mythology is how little interaction the gods of Asgard have with humans. It is almost like they have their own world, wars, disagreements, etc, and the world of humans is entirely separate. Gods do not meddle in human affairs nor frankly pay any attention to it. This is quite different from the Greco-Roman mythology which is largely human/hero-centered. 

Asgardian gods are also not very likeable. They cheat, lie and deceive each other mercilessly. We all expect such behavior of Loki, but the rest of them are just as bad. They are also not very forgiving. In a way, Ragnarok is their own doing. The monsters they fight are of their own making. I did like the concept of renewal that Ragnarok brings. Old disagreements, cruelty, revenge, all ugliness are washed away, and a new reality is created in its place. I definitely highly recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars. 

"The Silvered Serpents" by Roshani Chokshi

The Silvered Serpents is the action-packed sequel to The Gilded Wolves which I read last year. In this installment, Severin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique and Hypnos travel to Russia. In Book 1, they were able to thwart the Fallen House's plot but did not find all of the House's treasure. Among it, as rumor has it, one will find The Divine Lyrics, the book which Laila needs in order to prolong her life. 

I did re-read The Gilded Wolves right before I started the sequel, and I am glad I did as I definitely forgot many of the details. The book was just as enjoyable upon re-reading as I remembered. The Silvered Serpents is definitely darker and grittier. Severin painfully suffers the loss of Tristan. His grief consumes him. He truly thinks he can never let anyone get close to him and risk such pain again. He and Laila barely speak to each other even as Laila starts counting down the days to her 19th birthday - the day of her foretold death. As our friends rush to the lake Baikal in search of the Sleeping Palace, prepare for more secrets, betrayals, unexpected plot twists and heartache. 

As usual with fantasy based in Russia, I know some readers will find fault with Chokshi's use of Russian names, geography and history. Mistakes of this kind do not bother me in fantasy. It is her world and the author definitely has the creative license to do whatever she wants. But I admit, it is a bit annoying when the Ural Mountains suddenly pop up near Baikal (imagine if the Rockies were said to be located in Virginia), or a character's last name is constructed as a patronymic (Efremovna instead of Efremova). 

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. It is not a bad one. Many things are explained and we know what is happening but the book definitely does not have a self-contained ending. At this point, I am not sure when book 3 is going to be released, but I would imagine, at least a year from now.

5 out of 5 stars. Definitely recommend. An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Clap When You Land" by Elizabeth Acevedo

Clap When You Land is another outstanding book by Elizabeth Acevedo. Like her Poet X it is written entirely in verse. I do recommend listening to it on audio if you get a chance. This story is about two sisters: one living in New York and the other in the Dominican Republic. Their father had two families, married two different women, and the two girls were born two months apart. The sisters know nothing about each other or the double life their father leads. Then unexpectedly, a tragedy strikes. Their father dies in a plane crash while en route to his annual summer retreat in the DR. 

The book provides a wonderful insight into the hopes and dreams both girls have, how much they both love their father and how their lives change upon his death. This book is also about grief, how paralyzing and soul crushing it can feel not being able to find a reason for senseless and sudden death. As usual, Acevedo explores hard hitting subjects of poverty, sexual harassment, and immigration. At the same time, this book is full of love and hope. At this point, she is definitely one of my favorite authors. 5 out of 5 stars.

"Majesty" by Katharine McGee

Majesty is a sequel to American Royals, a young adult alternate history novel which imagines what America would be like if George Washington had agreed to become its King. We basically follow the three young Washingtons: Beatrice, the first female monarch of America, her twin siblings Samantha and Jefferson, and their various friends and love interests. 

The book has very little politics. What it does have in spades is court intrigue and manipulations. Even though the plot seems silly and far-fetched, I somehow got really attached to the characters. Reading these books feels a lot like watching a soap opera: the storyline is completely unrealistic and frustrating and yet you cannot stop watching it. One thing that I did not like about book 2 is how quickly all the main characters abandoned the love interests from book 1 and moved on to someone new. It's almost like all the drama we saw in book 1 did not exist. This made the characters look fickle and immature. There were also plenty of moments that were just too convenient: someone walking in just in time to see something untoward, or discovering a hidden wedding invitation, etc. 

Because I read the unedited advanced copy of the novel, I noticed a couple of things that I hope will be fixed in the finished copy: (a) there is no such thing as Cyrillic numerals, there is the Cyrillic alphabet, but the numerals are exactly the same as are used in Western Europe and America; and (b) the author kept referring to nobility as royalty, these are two different things. These are minor points. Afterall, this is not a historic fiction novel, but still they are annoying enough in a book that is already pretty silly overall. 3 out of 5 stars, purely for the entertainment value.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Well Met" by Jen DeLuca

In summer, I always want to read fluffy romcom novels preferably set by the sea or even better on an island. This year I picked up "Well Met" by Jen DeLuca. The setting wasn't nautical but just as appropriate - a small town Renaissance Faire. 

I ended up really enjoying this book. With all the stress and weirdness that 2020 has brought, it was nice to immerse myself in a book that makes you laugh me laugh and feel happy and gooey inside. It is an enemy to lovers story (the trope I absolutely love - thank you Mr. Darcy!). The two main characters are volunteers at a local Renaissance Faire and as they start acting the part of young lovers for the benefit of Faire patrons, the romance starts spilling over into their real lives. There is lots of banter, heart-warming moments and overall, this book made a couple of my evenings very enjoyable. I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

"Where Dreams Descend" by Janella Angeles

Where Dreams Descend is a spellbinding new fantasy novel that features a magician competition, a magical circus, and a mystery. Our main character Kallia is a born magician who has lived her entire life in an entertainment club hidden in the woods. The master of the house Jack taught her how to wield magic and turned her into a star performer at the club. But Kallia wants more. When rumors of a magician competition being held in a nearby city reach her, she resolves to run away and enter the competition.

This book has many elements that I like:

• an unequivocally strong female lead – I loved Kallia's confidence and the way she owned the stage and never cowered before men in power
• magicians competing for the right to be called the best and to launch their performing career
• a mystery and a lurking evil power that haunts the city and attacks performers
• a captivating love story
• a powerful anti-hero

All of these elements combined kept me enthralled with the story. Moreover, the story itself reads a lot like a thriller, you constantly wait for the other shoe to drop, which makes you keep turning the pages. The one thing I found a bit disappointing is that nothing is really explained in the end. We know that there is some ancient secret. There are also hints at non-humans, another world beyond the mirror, rumors of magicians disappearing, etc. But nothing is explicitly revealed. 

I guess this makes a perfect set up for book 2, especially with that ending, but I did hope that we would get at least something explained. Who is Jack? What happened with the four founding families of the town? Where do magicians disappear? Who are the shadows in the mirror? Getting at least one question answered would be a bit more satisfying. I gave this novel 4 out of 5 stars docking a star for this absence of answers. I will definitely be reading book 2.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Spindle City" by Jotham Burrello

I originally got interested in getting an advanced reading copy of this novel after noticing in the description that it was set in Fall River, MA. I live in Southern New England and have long been fascinated by the history of some of the cities around here: Fall River, New Bedford, Newport etc. Many of them had their heyday over a hundred years ago and we can see the evidence of their past grandeur even today: from rows of former factory buildings in Falls River, to the whaling history of New Bedford, to palatial mansions of Newport.

Set against the backdrop of textile manufacturing in Fall River in early 1900s, the story at its core is a family drama. Joseph Bartlett manages the Cleveland Mill. We follow the story of his rise to power, his personal tragedy, parenting difficulties and struggles with doing what is right for thousands of workers that are in his employ. 

Burrello gives a great snapshot of the city during the time when it rivaled Boston and Chicago due to its thriving textile industry. Thousands of immigrants came to Fall River chasing their American dream. In 1911 President Taft visited the city during the Cotton Centennial celebration. Burrello gives us a glimpse into the lives of the very wealthy and the very poor. He also paints the larger historic background with the suffragist movement, unionizations, and World War I. I also thought he did a great job outlining the causes of the industrial decline in New England. The mills of Falls River simply could not compete with the lower costs of production in the South.

Even though I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel, I was also completely engrossed in the Bartletts' family drama. The novel is filled with memorable characters and their nuanced stories. Overall, this was a great read. I would say Burrello wrote a love letter to Fall River, or at least to its history. I devoured the book in 2 days and highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"The Lost Diary of Venice" by Margaux DeRoux

The Lost Diary of Venice is a new favorite. Alternating between being set in modern day Connecticut and 16th century Venice, it is a quiet ode to art, books and love lost and found. If you like exploring bookstores, art history, libraries and old secrets, this book is for you.

Our main character Rose is a book restorer and a bookstore owner in New Haven, CT.  One day a stranger comes into her store carrying an old book that he inherited after his great-grandmother's death. It turns out to be a treatise on art by a forgotten 16th century painter Giovanni Lomazzo. As Rose takes on the project of restoring the book she discovers that the book is actually a palimpsest - there is another text underneath which was erased and written over. If the top layer is a work on Renaissance art, the one underneath it is the artist's diary. Rose is thus plunged into the life of Venetian courtesans, naval battles, and religious fanatics. As Giovanni unexpectedly falls in love with a lover of a Venetian nobleman, Rose too feels inexplicably drawn to her customer and Gio's descendent William Lomazzo.

I was enthralled by the story and DeRoux' writing from the very beginning. It was a real treat. I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Poet X" by Elizabeth Acevedo

I fell in love with Elizabeth Acevedo's writing last year when I read With the Fire on High. I found The Poet X even more amazing. It is written entirely in verse, and I highly recommend the audiobook because the author reads it herself. The book is written from the point of view of a 16-year old girl and a secretly aspiring poet named Xiomara. Her parents are Dominican immigrants: the mother is extremely religious and strict, and the father is basically there but completely checked out. Xiomara's only outlet is pouring out her thoughts in poems with which she covers pages and pages of notebooks. I once heard someone say that a true writer cannot help but write: they will even cover walls in imagined writing as they walk along a street. I believe this is true about Xiomara. She is quiet at school but there is a whirlwind of emotions, desires, rage and yearnings in her heart that find shape in her poems.

The book is timeless and poignant in its exploration of the conflict between generations. How do you tell your devout Catholic mother that you are doubting your own faith? Or, for Xiomara's twin brother: how do you tell them that you are gay? Xiomara falls in love with a boy. But her mother thinks that only sluts date, and there is no way she would ever be allowed to go out with him. Xiomara's body is changing and with it come inappropriate whistles, remarks and even gropings from random men on the street and in public transportation. The final straw that pushes Xiomara over the edge is the fact that her mother refuses to accept her art. Ultimately, the story ends on the note of hope. She has to fight for her right to express herself in poetry, and her parents learn to accept it rather than lose her altogether. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend this book.

"Unravel the Dusk" by Elizabeth Lim

Unravel the Dusk is the conclusion of the story that began in book 1 called Spin the Dawn, which I read and reviewed last year. We left our characters at the end of the first book, when Maia began feeling the effects of having been marked by a demon. In book 2, the Emperor and the shansen are back to being at war with each other and Maia and the former imperial enchanter are in the thick of it. Maia has to learn how to control the demon within and channel her new power for good. At a basic level, it is a story of good and evil, an internal struggle within each of us: the choices we make, the impulses we follow or let go off. 

Similar to book 1, Unravel the Dusk is action-packed and a very fast read. I liked the scope of the story, the character development and the plot. Overall, a very well rounded fantasy duology. 4 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com 

2020 Mid-Year Reading Goals Check-In

Late June-early July is that time of year when I like to look back on the first six months of reading and re-visit what I liked/disliked and how well (or not) I am doing with my reading goals for the year. As I've done in the past I will incorporate some questions from the mid-year book freak-out tag that many book bloggers like doing around this time of year.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020

The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley. If I ever had any doubts that Natasha Pulley was one of my favorite authors, they have been utterly obliterated now.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020

Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

Network Effect by Martha Wells

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

The Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

5. Biggest disappointment

The Arrangement by Sylvia Day - DNF'ed at 20 %, complete and utter trash in my opinion, and I rarely say that about books

6. Biggest surprise

The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant - read this for my bookclub and it turned out to be an unexpectedly deep examination of one journey to self-discovery and growth

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Yaa Gyasi. Her writing is very hard-hitting and vivid. When I read her book I saw the scenes she created and felt the pain and joy of the characters. 

8. Newest fictional crush

Kal from Aurora Burning. Who wouldn't like a purple-eyed Legolas look-alike

9. Newest favorite character

The Murderbot from The Murderbot Diaries. Technically I read the first novella last year, but I read three more recently and they further solidified my love for this character.

10. Book that made you cry

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

11. Book that made you happy

The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser. This middle-grade series is cozy and heart-warming and everything I look for when I pick up a children's book.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Looking over my goals for the year and progress to date, I really need to focus on reading classics. I have the set goal of 12 for the year, and so far read only 4.

Reading the Classics: "Claudine's House" by Colette

Ever since I watched (and loved) the movie about Colette (starring Keira Knightley), I've wanted to read a book by her. Colette was quite a controversial figure in her time, mostly because of her scandalous lifestyle and performances at the Moulin Rouge. Her writing career began when she was married to her first husband Willy, a notorious libertine and opportunist. Sensing Colette's talent, he forced her to write for long periods of time under lock and key and insisted that she include salacious details in her books. He then published her work under his own name. The books were a tremendous success and were semi-biographical in nature. 

Claudine's House is a book Colette wrote much later in life. It is a compilation of reminiscences and stories about her happy childhood in the French countryside. They made me quite nostalgic and took me back to my own childhood memories. Colette's writing is exquisite and refreshing. It feels like seeping a cold drink while sitting in a rocking chair on the back porch on a warm summer day. Each story brings out a certain aspect or memory whether it is an amusing story about a household pet, a gossipy tale about a pretty neighbor or a reflection on her mother's idiosyncrasies. 

I really enjoyed this book and was glad to discover that my fascination with Colette was well-placed. I will definitely be reading more of her work and about her life if I get a chance. 

Five Books to Read about the Racial Divide in America

This past week, peaceful and violent protests have broken out all over America in the wake of more cases of police brutality. As I struggle to comprehend how (HOW?) can we be still dealing with racism in the 21st century, I have put together a list of five books that deal with the issue of race in America. All five have profoundly touched me. All five are written by black authors if you are looking for ways to support black creators. Here they are in no particular order:

1. White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

This is a non-fiction title which chronicles the history of opposition to black success in America. The author traces its roots back to the Civil War and the Reconstruction era and examines how the structural institutionalized racism came to be. It is a highly illuminating and poignant read.

2. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

This is a contemporary fiction title which provides a nuanced view of the myriad biases and privileges we internalize and don't stop to examine. I highly recommend listening to this on audio if you get a chance, it is an excellent production. I read this book earlier this spring and have a full review here.

3. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

This book is a compilation of life stories of several generations of African families some of whom stayed in Ghana and others were brought to America as slaves. Each story is heart-wrenching but also hopeful. You can read my full review of this book here.

4. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler's work requires no introduction. Written as a Sci-Fi novel with time-traveling elements, this book gives readers a glimpse into the horrors of slavery. I have a full review of this book here.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This is a YA contemporary novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. I would highly recommend it to parents and teens, and frankly anyone alive today. I listened to this book on audio also and highly recommend that format. Here is my original review.

"The Lost Future of Pepperharrow" by Natasha Pulley

I love Natasha Pulley's books. Technically The Lost Future of Pepperharrow is the sequel to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. I would definitely recommend reading the first book before getting into this one. We follow the same main characters: Keita Mori, a Japanese samurai and clairvoyant turned watchmaker, and Thaniel Steeplton, a translator and composer. In this book, we Keita, Thaniel and their daughter Six travel to Japan: Thaniel is sent on an assignment to the British legation there, and Keita is being blackmailed into appearing in his homeland by Japan's new Prime Minister.

I loved the setting of the 19th century Japan. I should really read more books set there. Natasha Pulley did a wonderful job conveying the sense of what it is like to be a foreigner in a different culture and explaining the intricate nuances of the Japanese language. She is a masterful storyteller. We follow different point of views and different timelines, and just like in her other books, the ending is exquisite and wholly satisfying. This book also contains some of the most beautiful declarations of love. 

Pulley's books are magical. They have the right mix of a historical setting, steampunk elements, adventure and romance. There was also a brief cameo appearance of a character from her other novel The Bedlam Stacks. Perhaps in the next installment Keita Mori and Thaniel Steepleton will go visit him in Peru :).

5 out of 5 stars. She is definitely one of my favorite writers.

"Reaper Man" by Terry Pratchett

The sheer number of Terry Pratchett's books has always intimidated me. But when my bookclub picked one of his novels as our next read, I took the plunge. Reaper Man technically is book number 11 in Pratchett's expansive Discworld series. However, having read the book, I can honestly confirm that his novels can be read in any order.

Pratchett's writing is witty, clever and hilarious. I kept chuckling throughout the book. It is filled with puns, wordplay and clever allusions to customs, historical facts or other books. Overall, I got the impression that Pratchett really loves and gets humanity. He laughs at people, but it is always good-naturedly and with deep affection. It really touched me for some reason.

Now to the plot. The book begins with Powers that Be determining that Death has been exhibiting an unforgivable character flaw - he has been showing sympathy. They thus decide to fire him. Death receives his verdict and goes into a retirement of sorts where he tries to live the rest of his life among people. In the meantime, living things all over Discworld cannot properly die what with Death's job being vacant. All sorts of mayhem ensues as the world is filled with built up lifeforce.

Apart from Death, we follow other hilarious characters: wizards from the local magical University, a clairvoyant, a boogeyman, and a whole bunch of other undead creatures. They all try to figure out what is going on as things start spiralling out of control, and Death is learning a thing or two about being alive.

I really enjoyed this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Jane Austen Society" by Natalie Jenner

The Jane Austen Society is Natalie Jenner's debut novel which is coming out on May 26th here in the US. As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I tend to be interested in anything that has her name in the title or has anything to do with her characters.

This is a historical fiction novel set in Chawton, England, in the 1940s. Chawton is where Jane and her sister Cassandra finally settled after their brother Edward inherited a large estate of the Knights family (the family was a distant relation to the Austens and adopted Edward as they themselves were childless). We follow several different characters in the book: a country doctor, a schoolteacher, a scullery maid, a farmer, and even a Hollywood star. All of them share one love: Jane Austen's novels.

The author uses the omniscient voice so even though we follow different characters at different times and the perspective changes, the narrative is always in the third person. I personally prefer this style of writing. The story flows smoother and I don't get distracted by different "voices".

As one can discern from the title, the characters eventually band together to form the Jane Austen Society designed to preserve the place where Jane Austen spent the last 10 years of her life. Throughout the novel, each of the characters deals with their own personal struggles and tragedies, and somehow reading Austen helps them cope with loss and pain, and pulls them back to joy and life. Through this new project of establishing a society, all of them acquire an additional purpose and drive, and I loved watching the many transformations the characters go through.

I ended up really enjoying this book. In fact, I think it might become a favorite. Every year, I review 12-20 galleys of upcoming novels. This is one of those rare occasions, when I am planning to buy a finished copy for my library, and will definitely read it again. There something cozy and nostalgic about the setting in rural England. There are also multiple references to Austen's characters, which is always a plus for an Austen fan. 5 out of 5 stars. What a delightful read!

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com 

"The Light Birgade" by Kameron Hurley

The Light Brigade is a Sci-Fi novel set in a distant future on Earth and on Mars. By this point, humans have successfully colonized the Moon, Mars and are envisioning moving further into space. On earth, geographic divisions are no longer along country/nation borders. Instead, the entire planet is divided between six major corporations who are de-facto and de-juri governments of their respective territories. Citizens of those territories have the most rights and benefits, residents basically have to work very hard for the same benefits, and ghouls are the lowest rung of society and have to scavenge to survive.

Our main character Dietz was able to rise from ghouls to resident and has now enlisted in her corporation's army in order to earn citizenship and more importantly to avenge the deaths of her younger brother and girlfriend who died in what was reported as Mars' attack on Sao Paolo.

I loved this novel. It is fast paced, entertaining, has great characters and is filled with poignant themes of what is reality, what is truth, and how does one break out of the vicious circle of war and power-grabbing. It also portrays war as a senseless timewarped meat-grinder where soldiers are stripped of all identity, are expected to blindly follow orders and the meaning of "heroism" loses any meaning.

There is also a time-traveling aspect to the novel which I personally always like in Sci-Fi novels. Overall, the more I think about it, the more things I find to ponder. This would make a great book for a bookclub. 5 out 5 stars. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

"None of this is real," Andria said. She began to move around me. "This reality, more than even the one we see, is a complete fabrication. It exists in your mind. Like pain. Like pleasure."

"Truth is a point of view."

"We are, all of us, caught within a massive loop of time, bouncing around in the spaces between things."

"The Queen's Fortune" by Allison Pataki

The Queen's Fortune is a historical fiction novel about Desiree Clary who was Napoleon's first fiance, then a member of his extended family, and later the queen of Sweden. The book is written from Desiree's point of view and covers a period of about 70 years: from 1789 to 1860. Much of the story is focused on Napoleon and his relationship with Josephine. Personally, I've been fascinated with Napoleon and Josephine's love story ever since I watched the 1987 film with Jacqueline Bisset when I was a kid. So the fact that so much of the book was focused on that tumultuous relationship is the aspect I really liked. However, in other ways, this novel was a letdown.

The main character Diseree is painfully lackluster. In the beginning she is young and inexperienced so the fact that she just goes with the flow and does what is expected of her makes sense. However, in some instances she behaves in ways that are hard to understand and the author never attempts to provide any explanation. For example. as a woman whom Napoleon basically discarded in favor of Josephine, she suffers horribly as she is forced to watch Napoleon's budding love affair and then marriage. Diseree's sister is married to Napoleon's brother Joseph and Diseree lives with them in Paris thus spending a lot of time with the Bonaparte family. She chooses to never confront Napoleon about his actions, and silently endures her pain. Moreover she is forced to spend a lot of time with Josephine. In the book, this relationship comes through as very strained and superficial. Yet, the author never discusses how a young woman, replaced by such an enigmatic personality and beauty would feel about it. Or how that relationship would change over time.

Apart from her sister Julie, Deseree does not have any friends. As a person, she seems to be quite unremarkable: no personality, no accomplishments, no ambition. Things just sort of happen to her. She is caught up in the circumstances, but there is absolutely nothing remarkable that can be said about her own role in history or the lives of the people around her. She is said to have been pretty. But even in her family life, she makes zero effort to be a good wife and mother. After her husband becomes the king of Sweden, she leaves him and her son for years at a time and spends time in France. We never get any information as to what exactly she did in France during the many years she spent their. She complains about Swedish winters, but never goes to see her son and husband even in summertime. I found this particular aspect of the book frustrating. Since it is fiction, nothing precluded the author to at least speculate why she would stay in France.

Unlike other characters in the book, Deseree also seems wholly unconcerned about the fact that she only ever had one child early on in her marriage. At a time when children died frequently in infancy, it seems unbelievable to me that a woman in her position would not want more children especially since in her case providing an heir to the throne was so important.

Aside from poor character development, the book also does not provide a good sense of Napoleon's genius. In addition, very little information is given about his military campaigns. Desiree sees him as overly ambitious, proud, and increasingly, almost manically power-hungry. Perhaps the whole point is that Desiree herself was just a simple girl from Marseille who somehow due to a remarkable chain of events got sucked into the whirlwind of events and people surrounding Napoleon. She never wanted to be a queen, thus on become one, she made zero effort to use her position to accomplish anything. Judging from this book, hers was a life spent in the shadow of other great people, and thus the history simply forgot about her. Even the book that is supposed to be about her life reads more like the story of Josephine. The only bit of her story that I found interesting was the fact that her son married Josephine's granddaughter. Thus, the two women loved by Napoleon founded the Swedish royal dynasty that is still in power today. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

"Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi

I read Homegoing with the Critical Consciousness Reading Group that we have at work. Our discussions focus on topic of equity, diversity, privilege, bias, etc, and are usually centered around a novel. Homegoing was a great choice for this group. It explores the history of slavery, the scars it left on collective consciousness of societies. It also explores the role the presence of a superpower and its settlers had on indigenous populations. It is an incredible read.

The book is structured as a compilation of stories from several generations within the same family. We start with two sisters in Ghana in the 1700s. Born to the same mother, they did not know about each other's existence, and by a stroke of fate, one of them marries a white soldier who oversees the rounding up of slaves headed for the Americas, and the other one of sold into slavery.

Every single story in this book is heartbreaking. Every single one is also filled with courage, resilience and unimaginable strength. In addition, I cannot help but admire Gyasi's skill as a writer. When you read her stories, you do not see words, but rather pictures: landscapes, faces, emotions. Her writing is vivid and almost cinematographic. I absolutely loved it. 5 out of 5 stars. No, 5 stars doesn't begin to describe how much I loved this book and how much it changed my perspective on the world we live in. It is because of books like this that I read. There are many good books out there, but then once in a while you stumble upon a real treasure. This was one of those cases. Do not pass it up.

"Shorefall" by Robert Jackson Bennett

Shorefall is a sequel to Foundryside, an extremely popular fantasy novel that I read last year. Somehow this installment lost its magic for me. I loved Foundryside, and yet Shorefall just dragged. Orso's constant cursing felt repetitive and annoying. If in book 1 he came across as a grumpy genius, in book 2, he pretty much spent most of the time saying "sh*t". Pages and pages of descriptions of how various scrivings worked became tiring as well. Finally, I thought the plot had some holes and the pacing was odd. Right at the point when things should be happening fast, our main characters would slow down and wonder about something irrelevant.

Some things which I felt were clear from the context (e.g., why Crasedes could not see Berenice when she was hiding in the ditch) were explained in a nauseating detail. Yet, other more important points (i.e. how did the new super-being called Tevanne escape in the end) were given no explanation whatsoever. In this particular case, there was simply one line "Tevanne escaped" - what? how?

And then there were moments where the characters could have acted, but didn't simply to suit the plot. For example, when Crasedes comes to Lamplands to attack Valeria and commands Gregor to join him, Gregor was about to shoot a scrived ball at Crasedes which would have incapacitated him. Once the command is issued, Gregor drops the weapon, and no other character picks it up and shoots the bad guy! Why? Instead Berenice and Orso both rush after Gregor. Again, why? This particular point in the story irked me to no end.

Moreover, there did not seem to be a larger moral underpinning to story. We got a bit of Valeria's and Crasedes reasoning for wanting to change humankind, but it seems superfluous and undeveloped. In addition, we still don't have the full origins story of the Clef and Crasedes. I understand the author is probably saving the big reveal for the final book, and perhaps that is why book 2 feels like a filler. Yes, there was a lot of action, but nothing truly decisive occurred. We also did not really have any big aha moments. Anyway, I can't quite pin this down, but I struggled getting through the book and I was underwhelmed overall. At this point, I am not sure if I want to read book 3. I think I'll wait and see what the reviews will be like.