Wayward Bookshelf

The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst It only happens every so often now that I’ll start a new book and find myself staying up until 4am to finish it. I did that with Queen of Blood last week. This book just ticked a lot of the right boxes for me. Box 1: It has a really awesome brand of magic that involves partnering with magical, fantastic, elemental beings, and so it has the overall feel of a darker, older faery tale. Box 2: Our heroine is also an unlikely choice who still manages to be very compelling. She doesn’t seem to exhibit any strong innate talent, but she’s stubborn enough not to give up and shows some innovative resourcefulness from time to time. And so when she does come into her own, you get to be extra excited with her! Box 3: The stakes are high. Natural consequences exist. This makes it believable. The fate of the world as they know it seems to be on the line. The magical beings they’re partnering with are pulling off the kid gloves and $#!T gets real. People co...

The Ravenous Gown: And 14 More Tales about Real Beauty by Steffani Raff After the first story in this collection made me laugh out loud several times, I knew I had to get this book and keep reading. All the stories have alternative takes on beauty, and feature witty, self-sufficient characters who take active roles in shaping their respective destinies. From conquering dragons to having incredibly smelly feet, issues both fantastic and mundane are addressed in this excellent read-aloud for all ages.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire Oh goodness, this was a beautiful book. I really enjoyed the first in the Wayward Children series " Every Heart a Doorway ," but I may have loved this one more. Jack and Jill were such intriguing characters, so very tragic and dysfunctional that I really wanted to know their story.

Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb I received an advanced digital copy of this book, and when I finished, I just re-read the ending about 8 times before finally putting it down . . . I will definitely be buying a hardcover for my shelf when it comes out. I have followed Fitz & the Fool since I was 13, and also read all the other Realm of the Elderlings titles as they came out. This final trilogy was an opportunity to revisit the world one more time, to see it expanded further, glimpse the future that Fitz & the Fool had called forth, and have some loose ends tied up. Without giving anything away, this final installment was a beautifully crafted book. I had no idea how Ms. Hobb was going to close out the series, and considering how long I've loved these characters, I was not sure if even the perfect ending would be satisfying. But it was. I read it 8 times because it was absolutely right. Consistent with the other books, the world building, plot and character developmen...

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss I finished this book, and found myself several minutes later still staring blankly at the last page in some sort of wonder. . . I enjoyed the Slow Regard of Silent Things far more than I thought I might. Like so many of you, its not the book I am desperately ready for, but even so, it's been a while since I felt a book strike such a profoundly personal, meaningful chord.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James I finished the book, but was rather sorry that I did. I didn't really like this book.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik This dark fairy tale was a gripping read. Nieshka is a compelling and unique character, with many talents who is, by virtue of her nature & personality, simply unable to fit into the boxes that others would put her in. She grows up near the Wood, which is full of elemental forces & spirits that have become corrupted and sinister, but the Wood is also a source of essential food & water. When the time comes for the Dragon, the local wizard, to choose a new assistant from the town's young women, Nieshka is selected to be his assistant for the next decade. And he might have gotten more than he bargained for.  In a world where magic is tidy, orderly and performed to strict guidelines, Nieshka literally shakes the foundations of the kingdom by breaking form and performing spells that are supposed to be long forgotten - and it's a good thing too, because together Nieshka & the Dragon end up facing an unforeseen enemy that is crafy & st...

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Echo is a beautifully crafted story that starts as a fairy tale, and meanders its way into a World War II era civilian setting by way of a very unique harmonica. As the harmonica changes hands, those who play it are changed too. And each character has a quality that makes them different from their peers, a birthmark, an ethnicity, etc. As they encounter challenges they find confidence and strength in their music. A wonderful, moving read for young and old alike. 

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith If possible, Jane Austen just got funnier. The original Pride and Prejudice made me laugh at her social commentary and satirical wit to no end, but add zombies to it and it reaches an entirely different level of funny. Grahame-Smith does a wonderful job at retaining Austen's flavor and wit, including many of the original passages, while adding zombies and warriors to the novel in a way that made this book laugh out loud funny.