Well, my birthday weekend was eventful to be sure and yet I did have some fun. My movie going plans went awry(more on that later) but that turned into an opportunity to do a little in-person book shopping.
Before that happened, one of the gifts I received that morning was a lovely edition of Swordheart by T.Kingfisher, a charming fantasy novel that I’ve nothing but wonderful things about.
Our leading lady is Halla,a widow who has just come into a sizable inheritance from a distant relative and already her family is trying to force her into a marriage arrangement that would benefit them much more than her.
Coming across an ancient sword, she releases it from its scabbard which also frees a knight named Sarkis from the blade as well. Due to a curse, Sarkis must defend the one who wields the blade and Halla does need the help, only she’s not too keen on resorting to a killing spree in order to solve her problems.
Can the two of them find a way to better their situations without bloodshed yet take a moment for a bit of romance for themselves?
Like I said, praise for this book has been solid and while I do already enjoy Kingfisher’s unique and occasionally gritty style with fantasy stories, this particular title has been compared to the iconic The Princess Bride in terms of tone. That sounds like a fictional flavor worth indulging in indeed:
Later that day, I wound up going to a bookstore instead of the movie I was planning to see(a last minute change that worked out better in the end) and the first book added to my purchase pile was Marian Kamali’s The Stationary Shop.
Starting in Tehran of 1953, Roya at seventeen is able to attend university for what her father hopes will be practical purposes but her love of fiction leads her to the literary establishment of the title where she finds true love with one of the other regular readers.
Bahman and Roya keep meeting each other at the shop on Tuesdays, forming a romance that leads to a proposal of marriage. Yet, his political activism leads him to disappear with the only remaining connection between them being letters that the shop keeper accepts on their behalf. Plans are made for their future, however, the forces of change are upon their country and even love has its limits when it comes to that.
Having read the amazingly wonderful The Lion Women of Tehran last year, I was thrilled to find a copy of this earlier work as it should hopefully tide me over until this author blesses us with another bookish delight:
Then, I came across Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower and eagerly placed it among my purchases.
This modern classic about a not too distant future, where climate change and economic collapse are holding hands and holding what remains of society down, has become a generational touchstone for many a reader and it certainly feels like a good time to explore this groundbreaking book and it’s many wonders.
While I’m not in an in-person book club at the moment, it certainly would be great to engage with the wider conversation that those groups have had and are still having with this novel, once I finish it and have something meaningful to contribute in that regard:
To finish up my shopping, The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst was the ideal topping for my bookish birthday sundae.
This YA fantasy introduces us to Calista, who is sent to her Aunt Zee’s inn over the summer for a much needed change of scenery.
While she quickly realizes that this place is no ordinary hotel, Calisa is delighted to help out as much as possible despite her aunt’s reluctance to accept any assistance, especially from her.
One day, Zee is not to be found and until she decides to return, Calisa has to keep things running as smoothly as possible and with the help of Jack, the groundskeeper’s charming son, she seems to be doing well. But how long can she maintain the magic required to hold the inn together and what will be the price of doing that for all concerned?
The word of mouth on this cozy fantasy has been lovely to say the least and I have been wanting to dive into more of Durst’s work since throughly enjoying her breakout hit, The SpellShop. This story is not part of that series but a good magical inn tale on its own is worth checking into there:
So, all in all, it was a pretty good birthday, especially when it came to books. I am definitely taking a book buying break next month(already paused my Book of the Month Club subscription) but will have to return a couple of library loans soon so not completely book acquisition free there.
To be honest, I did feel a bit bummed about missing out on the movie that I planned to see-with the world being as chaotic as it is right now, perhaps my expectations were a bit too high- but fortunately, I still had fun with family and friends which, if you’re lucky, is a year round source of comfort and joy.
On the bright side, we were able to switch our tickets for the movie we arrived very late to for another special showing in June for one of my all time favorites: Death Becomes Her!
This is a movie that I have loved since first seeing it when it was originally released in theaters (yes,
am that old and then some) and I immediately adored the Tales From the Crypt vibes of this wild ride that gleefully satirizes female rivalry, the seemingly insatiable quest for eternal youth and celebrity culture.
This cult classic will be well worth the wait to revisit on the big screen and the perfect belated birthday present, if you ask me. In the meantime, I am happy to have plenty of new books to open again and again without the need for a warning (if you know, you know)…:
Despite the ups and downs of the weather this spring(experiencing quite the cold snap at the moment!), summer is not too far off and considering the financial state of the world these days, a good book is still the best staycation, if you ask me.
In highlighting this trio of upcoming romance reads, I decided to pair each one with what I consider to be the best song for their potential soundtrack in case of potential adaptations. Even if these particular titles remain page only pleasures, a little playlist fun only adds to the love factor there.
Let’s start with Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood, due out in June, where a broken hearted writer finds quite the muse on and off the literary ranch series she’s created.
Gertie Bickerstaff has a two week deadline to deliver the last entry in her cowboy romance novel series but her recent breakup is stalling her writing skills big time.
While having a good crying session in her bathtub, Gertie is interrupted by one of her own fictional characters, River Oakley, the main villain of that world. He’s just as surprised to see Gertie (plus, not as bad of a guy as she’s made him out to be) and eager to return home.
In order to set things right, River offers to help Gertie get her exe back by pretending to be her new boyfriend and making said former lover jealous enough to make up with her. As time goes on, however, Gertie starts to wonder if she really needs to be back in that relationship or is this the start of something truly new and better with River?
I did throughly enjoy Greenwood’s prior book(The Love of my Afterlife) and this sounds like as much good quirky yet sincerely compelling storytelling here. As for my song choice, it’s a bit obvious but hey, worth holding out for:
Set for a July release is the latest from Christina Lauren, The Romantic Revival, a light and lively take on a classic sci-fi trope.
Dr. Emory Martin is as devoted to her work as a biomedical scientist as she is to her beloved husband Luca yet those two passions become one and the same most unexpectedly.
When Luca dies in a tragic accident, she uses her experimental project to hopefully bring him back to life. It does work, with the catch being that he has no memory of their life together.
In rebuilding what was lost, Emery decides to become the perfect partner that she felt that she wasn’t before. Yet, isn’t the best love not meant to be perfect?
Lauren’s work has dipped its toes in scientifically themed waters before and this sounds more about romantic chemistry rather than laboratory lore. That’s perfectly fine with me as this sort of reminds me of the oddly engaging 1987 romcom Making Mr. Right, where a quirky PR woman and an android she is supposed to teach to act more human have quite the interstellar romance.
The main love song from that film is extremely suitable for this offbeat tale of renewed love in my opinion (also, if you can find Making Mr. Right on streaming, definitely check it out):
Also due in July is Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst, the third in her cozy fantasy SpellShop series.
We met Marin, who has been a sea faring supply runner for some time now, with a crew consisting of a friendly sea serpent and a sentient shrub.
Upon arriving at the capital city of Alyssium, Marin quickly realizes that there’s a fiery revolution going on and that her good friend Dax is in need of escape from the angry mob.
Rescuing Dax and giving him cover as a member of her crew comes with a price as Marin is in need of a fake boyfriend for the annual End of Harvest Festival back in her home town. The deal is made yet Marin begins to wonder who is actually getting the true benefit of this bargain indeed.
SBD has blossomed into quite the cozy fantasy/romance sensation with her charming characters and graceful writing that does cast a storytelling spell on its readers. Speaking of spellcasting, this magical cover of “Somebody to Love” from the 2004 adaptation of Ella Enchanted just feels so right for this one:
It may be extremely difficult to look forward to anything good right now but letting our spirits be permanently sunk low isn’t going to make things better.
Allowing ourselves moments of joy is important and celebrating the arts in all forms is vital to keeping our collective home fires burning, so to speak.Yes, romance novels are a part of that grand tradition and shouldn’t be scorned on that account.
I will be highlighting some more upcoming releases from other genres as summer grows near and like I said, books offer some reasonably priced vacation relief (especially when you calculate transportation costs alone!) there.
That doesn’t mean you have to constantly stay at home; for my birthday this weekend, I’m going to a special showing of a classic romcom that promises to be fun and audience participation friendly, just the kind of pop culture party many of us need right now.
Romance is a time honored genre with well known tropes that can still surprise and delight you when creatively written and presented. I have high hopes for this particular trio of love lorn stories that, much like a great song, can put a much needed spring in your step despite the season you’re currently in:
As my birthday comes closer, the urge to buy books grows stronger and since I fully intend to take a break from biblio purchases in May, getting an Aardvark book box definitely was a good choice right now.
For the main selection, I went with Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham,a debut science fiction novel that blends reality dating shows with interstellar drama.
As a trash collector on a remote planet, Artemis intends to do nothing more than help her ailing mother survive yet a chance encounter with visiting royalty gets her an invite to the ultimate love matchmaking event in the universe.
With Prince Nix finding her forthright ways appealing and his sister Spielan promising her more than enough money to save her mother and then some, Artemis signs up despite having a few doubts about what’s to come.
Those doubts were good to have as Artemis meets up with several unexpected challenges during the competition, including a murder. In addition to that, she also finds herself attracted to the princess all the while, talk of revolution swirls around them…
This just sounds like glorious galactic fun and I plan to read this during the summer for the Sci-Fi June readathon (more on that particular TBR to come!). It’s also the first in a new series, one that should be quite the rocket ship of romance indeed:
I paired that with a book that I have eyeing for some time here, Keith Rosson’s Coffin Moon.
Set in 1975, Duane is a Vietnam veteran who has enough trouble in his life before a vampire biker gang invades the bar run by his in-laws.
The leader of the gang, John Varley, makes a point of brutally killing Duane’s wife Heidi as well as her folks, leaving him with only his distraught niece Julia as the lone ally on a road trip of revenge.
The rough and ready vibes of this story have serious pulp fiction energy but I suspect there’s more to this terror tale than that. Nonetheless, this puts me in mind of Kathryn Bigelow’s sleeper classic , Near Dark, which showcased a more down to earth style of vampire and who knows, maybe this book will be a future popcorn thriller someday soon:
Meanwhile, I did have to make a library trip sooner than I intended (ran out of renewals on a book that thankfully I finished in time) and naturally, added on a couple of paperbacks to my library loan pile.
Interestingly enough, both books had TV themes- one having recently adapted to the small screen (yes, Heated Rivalry and looking forward to season two!) and the other being adapted from a sitcom classic.
Murder by Cheesecake is the first entry in Rachel Ekstrom Courage’s cozy mystery series featuring the iconic Golden Girls as sleuths.
We begin with Rose arranging a St. Olaf traditional wedding in Miami for her visiting cousin. Such an occasion has Dorothy seeking a date from a VHS dating service(something that Blanche has no need of!) and despite the caustic commentary from her mother Sophia, Dorothy thinks she’s found the right guy.
While Mr. Right turns out to be a dud of a date, Dorothy is determined to make the best of things, especially since Rose is anxious about the wedding. But when he is discovered to be dead, face first in a perfectly good cheesecake, it’s up to Dorothy and friends to solve the case before more than just the wedding goes off the rails!
As someone who’s seen numerous GG episodes over the years, this sounds like excellent escapist entertainment to dive into. The second book in this series, Death on the Lanei, is due out this summer and it’s great to get a chance to check this out first via my local library.
I do know this show well enough to hear the characters’ voices in my head, not to mention that there was at least one or two episodes where Dorothy revealed a talent for detective work that makes me regret that Bea Arthur didn’t have a Murder She Wrote type of show of her own back in the day. Well, these books may give us a great idea of what that could’ve been like:
Speaking of libraries, next week is National Library Week starting April 19 and ending on the 25th(my birthday, btw) and now more than ever, it’s a good time to appreciate all that those literary institutions do for us.
In addition to providing people of all ages with plenty to read, other benefits such as computer access, research opportunities for students and outreach for each particular community’s needs are available at your local library.
Sadly as funds are being cut by cold hearted politicians and censorship threats are becoming all too real, this oasis of intellectual freedom is one of the many targets under fire these days.
Fortunately, we still hold true to certain establishments that provide true and lasting benefits to our society and the library is the steadfast standard bearer in that battle for preserving the best in our collective selves.
I know that there is so much going on just about every day now but do try and spare a moment to look in on your nearest library to see what they have to offer. You might be pleasantly surprised there:
April is one of my favorite months, due in part to being my birthday month as well, which makes ordering my Book of the Month club box all the more special.
To that end, my main selection was a deluxe edition of Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter(a writing duo who combined their last names here), that is as beautiful looking as any gift wrapped gem.
Our story is set in a mythical realm where in order to save her people from a deadly plague, Astrid must take up her mantle as heiress to the throne as well as the last witch of her order and journey to the Kingdom of Vatra to duel with Prince Zryan for control over all magic.
This duel requires them both to ride dragons, which is challenging in more ways than one. Astrid winds up also having to deal with Skylar, whose mother was killed by the king’s guard and has since become part of a traveling band of entertainers.
When she fears her best friend has been forcibly recruited into the royal army, Skylar seeks her out among the regals that she despises, only to be thrust into this battle to the death that decides the fates of the many. Can both of these women find a way to save themselves from being destroyed by such manipulative forces or is victory truly theirs for the taking?
This is a debut novel that is meant to be the first in a series and I hope that BOTM keeps up with these books as this initial outing is quite the pop culture package. Not only does this book have sprayed edges and gorgeous endpaper artwork (check my Instagram for a better look!) the cover jacket is reversible to boot. The couple of extra dollars that I paid this time around was definitely worth it.
Plus, a plot line where a witch and a wicked prince have to duel while riding dragons? Such a “Yes, Please “ and a please pass the popcorn while you’re at it there:
One of the fun bonuses of Book of the Month Club is that longtime members can get a free book for their birthday month and one that I chose was rather fitting for a lifelong reader indeed.
Meg Shaffer’s The Book Witch has the enchantress of the title seeking out a literary character to aid her in a real life quest.
Rainy March enjoys following in the magical footsteps of her family’s ability to hop in and out of the pages of books as a means of protecting those fictitious worlds from enemies both without and within. One major rule of her profession, however, is not to cross the line between reality and the written word for the good of all concerned.
However, when her beloved grandfather goes missing right around the time a rare volume is stolen, Rainy’s best chance to solve both mysteries is by enlisting the aid of her favorite British book bound detective known as The Duke of Chicago.
This team up could get Rainy expelled from her literary coven(not to mention surrendering her powers) yet the risks may be well worth the reward in more ways than one.
I did enjoy Shaffer’s The Wishing Game(and will soon catch up with her other novel The Lost Story) very much and this latest work sounds like a real page turning treat with perhaps a touch of noir, we shall see!:
To round this set of new reads off nicely, my final selection here was This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews(another writing duo, this time a wife and husband; twice in one box no less!).
Our leading lady is Maggie, who has been reading and rereading her favorite fantasy book series for years while waiting for the final entry to be released. She knows it so well, she’s practically living in that world far more than the real life she has in Texas.
Well, imagine her surprise when Maggie wakes up one morning to find herself in the kingdom of Keir Toren, only to die before the first chapter ends!
That death is brief but her time as a resident of Keir Toren is not(think Enchanted meets Groundhog’s Day) soon she is known as Maggie the Undying, whose near immortal status and through knowledge of the plot makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Hoping to avert the gruesome event that the books bring the characters (some of whom have become her new found friends), Maggie creates a motley crew of unlikely companions to aid in her mission. Even with the likes of a former swordsman, crafty crooks and cranky servants, Maggie soon realizes that even an unfinished tale can be hard to complete and perhaps not easy to lead towards a happy ever after.
This is my first time reading an Ilona Andrews novel ( which is also the first in a trilogy) and I am looking forward to this twisty time loop of a book that promises a fun mix of humor, pathos and magic for quite the reality bending ride:
You may have noticed that all of my picks have been from the fantasy genre and it’s not a complete coincidence there.
Given the ever growing horror that our daily news headlines have morphed into, is it any wonder that a fantasy realm filled with otherworldly dangers sounds ideal right now?
I’m not the first person wanting some sort of escape from a reality that’s truly getting out of control yet what little I can do about this includes still holding on to hope. Yes, greater things are happening that are in dire need of serious attention and those with the power to affect the possible outcome of such actions ought to be doing so as we speak.
That doesn’t mean that I or anyone else stuck here on the sidelines have to put our lives on hold while this is going on. Give voice to your concerns to those in charge but don’t let this disaster in waiting overrun your whole life.
We’re not the first generation to go through incredibly challenging times yet I do wish that once this crisis is resolved, that it’s a good long while until another arises that we’re better prepared for.
So I am still finding good things to focus on as we move forward and so can you.
Whether it’s a good book, an upcoming TV show or the Supergirl movie due out this summer, there’s nothing wrong in lighting that spark of inspiration for better things to come. Sorrow is strong but so is joy, even during our darkest hour:
