Kate’s Review: “Against the Darkness”

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Book: “Against the Darkness” by Kendare Blake

Publishing Info: Disney Hyperion, April 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: This epic finale to the The Next Generation trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake ( Three Dark Crowns ) features the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.

For generations, the Slayer was supposed to be the chosen, the one girl in all the world with the power to stand against the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. When Willow used the scythe to call up all the potential slayers at once, it changed everything. For years, the slayers have been working and fighting together as a team. Then the Darkness came, killing many slayers and trapping the rest in an alternate dimension. And Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first Slayer-Witch, found herself fighting evil alone. Sort of.

Sure, she has her new Scooby Gang, plus the help of her mom, Willow; Watcher, Spike; and even the brooding-but-hot Hunter of Thrace. But even though they have a master plan (obviously), the gang is more fragmented than ever.

So maybe it really is up to Frankie—and Frankie alone—to stand against the darkness. With Jake’s wild werewolf brother back in town, Dark Willow threatening to return, and the Darkness preparing for the final stage of their attack, now is not a great time to wallow in teen angst. After all, she’s the Slayer. It’s time to slay.

Review: Well, I knew that this moment was eventually going to come, and I honestly held off a bit because I was reticent to approach it. But Kendare Blake’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot series is coming to an end, and it closes out with “Against the Darkness”, in which Frankie Rosenberg, Slayer-Witch of Sunnydale, and her new set of Scoobies have to fight against the Big Bad for one final showdown, with supportive former Scoobies Willow, Oz, and Spike in tow as Buffy remains trapped in a hell dimension. I have absolutely adored this interpretation of the “Buffy” characters since the first book, and I was VERY nervous approaching the end. Partially because I am always nervous about the end of a series I am enjoying, but also because so many of these characters are near and dear to my heart, and I wanted them to be okay. I should have trusted Blake, because “Against the Darkness”, for lack of a better word, slays.

As we are closing in on the end of this trilogy, Frankie, Hailey, Jake, Sigmund, and the original Scoobies left behind in Sunnydale are trying to stop rogue slayer Aspen and her group of traitors known as The Darkness, and free Buffy and the other slayers from the hell dimension Aspen trapped them within. Frankie continues to be an utterly charming main character who has the weight of the world on her shoulders, who feels like a fantastic predecessor to Buffy Summers because she has similar challenges, but is her own person without feeling like a clone. Her biggest obstacles this time around are 1) she knows time is running out for Buffy and the slayers all trapped in a hell dimension, especially with Aspen making moves against her, 2) her mother Willow is going to more and more dangerous lengths to try and harness her magic to help Buffy, and 3) her good friend and fellow Scooby Hailey has imbedded herself as a spy by trying to get into Aspen’s good graces… and Aspen is having more of an effect on her than the Scoobies would like. It all feels like an old school “Buffy” end of season arc, and Blake captures the wit, the suspense, the pathos, and the heart that the show had throughout its run. Frankie is so easy to love and so easy to root for, and she is a such a well rounded character that she blends in with familiar faces from the source material swimmingly. I love her relationship with Willow, I LOVE her slayer/watcher relationship with Spike, but I also love her relationships with her friends because it feels so nostalgic.

But once again it’s my OG original favorites who captured my entire heart in this book. Blake really gives me everything I need from the “Buffy” characters from the show. I loved seeing Willow struggle with trying to use her magic to help her daughter as well as Buffy and the other imprisoned slayers, and how it treads her towards her Dark Willow tendencies. I loved how Oz has so effortlessly fit into this story even though he left the show in season four, as Blake makes him a perfect addition to the team not only for his cousin Jake, but also for Willow, his ex and now close friend. I loved seeing Giles show up (yes it’s a spoiler but it’s GILES, I HAD TO!) and take his place as a wise but still a bit snarky Watcher to help pull the group back together when it’s most needed. And, of course, Spike. My beloved Spike has stayed true to his kind of reckless and impulsive sarcastic self, emotions constantly on his sleeve, but his paternal relationship to Frankie is so touching, and brings out so much more in him that shows his caring and loving side that always comes out when most needed. And I don’t want to spoil much here, but Spuffy shippers? THE PAY OFF IS PHENOMENAL. I tried to not be a Spuffy shipper for awhile even though I was hardcore into them in high school, but Kendare Blake has brought me fully back into it because my GOD. THESE TWO.

I just love them so much. (source)

And once again, so many wonderful Easter eggs and references to the source material. Is it fan service? Probably yes. But Blake does do this in a way that flows well within this story so that even if you don’t know that it’s a knowing nod to something from the show it just feels organic and doesn’t stick out awkwardly or like a sore thumb.

What a fantastic end to a very enjoyable series. “Against the Darkness” sticks the landing, does justice for all the Scoobies, old and new, and gave this “Buffy” fan an ending that I will happily revisit over and over again. That’ll put the marzipan back in your pie plates, bingo, indeed. If you know, you know.

Rating 10: A fantastic and super satisfying ending to a “Buffy” follow up I have adored from the start.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Against the Darkness” is included on the Goodreads lists “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, and “YA hunting ghosts/monsters/zombies”.

Previously Reviewed:

• “In Every Generation”
• “One Girl In All The World”

Serena’s Review: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”

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Book: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” by Julia Quinn

Publishing Info: Avon, July 2002

Where Did I Get this Book: from the library!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for…well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret…and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same – especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide…is she his biggest threat – or his promise of a happy ending?

Review: With the new season of “Bridgerton” due to come to Netflix sometime in the next few months, I thought it was about time to go back and check out the book that this season is based on. The show is now out of order from the books, having skipped the third book (Benedict/Sophie’s season) and gone straight to Colin and Penelope. For the show, I think this makes a lot of sense given the focus on Penelope’s arc over the second season. But the book series didn’t have this same emphasis, so here we are in the fourth book.

While this book didn’t reach the high point that was the second book for me, I did enjoy this one quite a bit. Much of this comes down to the sheer charm that is Penelope. She’s an excellent main character, with all of the charm and wit you could want, but also a compelling story seeing tackle her insecurities and come into her own. But while I liked how the reveal of Lady Whistledown’s identity was handled, it did feel like a strange balancing act as far as the writing actually went. The reader is privy to much of Penelope’s inner thoughts before this, and it’s strange that this particular fact wouldn’t have surfaced earlier.

Colin is a bit more rough as a romantic lead, however. He was excellent in the first three books, always funny and affable, and while we see some of that here, he also becomes fairly insufferable at times. In particular, he didn’t fair overly well with his jealousy over Penelope’s success as Lady Whistledown. And I simply couldn’t make myself very interested in his own attempts at being an author. Instead, this focus seemed to undercut Penelope’s own story in some ways, with her having to reveal her identity and then retreat into the background as Colin moved to the forefront as an author who could publish under his own name, being a man and all. I get the historical limitations, but I hope the show changes some of how this is handled. I also keenly felt the loss of the funny Colin that we saw so much more of in the first few books.

That said, this book, as a whole, was quite funny. The scene where Colin and Penelope announce their betrothal to her family had me laughing out loud and re-reading it several times. I do hope the show finds a way of recreating this scene in some way, as it was hilarious. I also enjoyed all of the scenes with the larger Bridgerton crew. Eloise, in particular, had an interesting mini arch in this book. The show has changed several things already with the friendship between Eloise and Penelope, so I’m curious to see how they manage this set-up in the show. Given some of the events here, it naturally leads into Eloise’s story being the next up. So…is Benedict just going to be skipped forever??

Overall, I did enjoy this book, mostly down to the strength of Penelope as a leading lady. Colin was frankly a bit of a disappointment, given how great he had been in the previous three books. But I’m also all set to go on Eloise’s story! Though, if I’m trying to keep these reviews timed to around when the corresponding season is going to drop on Netflix…you’ll be hearing more from me in 5 years or so.

Rating 8: A sweet romance and some truly hilarious scenes, though I was a bit underwhelmed with Colin’s shift in personality and the second act role that his writing took on.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Romancing Mister Bridgerton” can be found on these Goodreads lists: “I’ve Loved You for Years” and Falling in Love with Best Friend/Best Friend’s Brother/Brother’s Best Friend

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Six”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Six” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “We have to make an example of her.”

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld—and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released. . . .

Review: I’m starting to really enjoy being able to count down to new “Lore Olympus” volumes as they have come out, usually one in the Spring and one in the Fall. It’s nice having a guaranteed amazing read to look forward to, and this Spring we are now on “Lore Olympus: Volume Six”. I try not to let myself bank too heavily on the quality of a highly anticipated read, but in the case of Rachel Smythe and her amazing reimagining of Greek Mythology I am pretty sure that I have no need to worry. She knows what she is doing. And what she is doing is putting some of my favorite deities through the ringer. Like, repeatedly. And skillfully. So on we go into the newest “Lore Olympus” collection, and man, did it once again blow me away.

When we left off, we saw Zeus demanding that Persephone and Demeter be returned to Olympus as fugitives so that Persephone could be punished for her crime of smiting morals, with Demeter punished for covering it up. Persephone ran into hiding, and Hades went looking for her. We don’t take too much time dilly dallying about Persephone on the run, and once Hades does reunite with her he now has some choices to make. He can either be loyal to his brother, who is also his ally in their alliance as Gods, or he can be loyal to Persephone, the woman he is falling in love with. It’s a great conflict and it’s a really good way to showing what a fucking narcissistic buffoon Zeus is, as the Gods all argue (over zoom call) as to what should be done next. Also, this zoom call is hilarious even thought it’s discussing some pretty heavy stuff. I especially liked Artemis being stuck on mute and not realizing it, and Hera just chain smoking in disdain for her husband and peeking into his frame every once in awhile. Smythe still has so many hilarious moments even as the story gets more and more intense and high stakes, and it never feels out of place or jarring.

In this volume, we are finally starting to get some full on answers about Persephone’s secret as the Bringer of Death. Earlier we got one version of the story, in that it was said that she massacred a number of mortals for pulling flowers in a forbidden area, which resulted in the deaths of many of Persephone’s flower nymph friends. What I really loved was that that initial explanation had been originally hyped up and sensationalized, and we had another version that seemed far more reasonable, if still disturbing. But Smythe decided that go even deeper, and to explore the idea that perceptions and realities might not line up still, and by letting Persephone tell it in her own words, and to open up to Hades about this, was a clever twist on its own. But this also leads to us learning more about Hades, and his own traumatic past of being swallowed and imprisoned by his father Kronos, and how that has affected his life going forward. In the previous volume Hades mentions that he didn’t really KNOW Persephone, and in this volume they now know each other in incredibly intimate ways, and their relationship is evolving and growing apace in a healthy way because of it. It is making this romance a slow burn for sure, but it’s also showing how two damaged people CAN find love and intimacy in spite of their baggage, and in a healthy way, and that they deserve to heal and be loved. It’s pretty clear to me that so much of “Lore Olympus” is about unpacking and healing from trauma, and I love seeing these two heal together.

It’s also the attention and expansion of the supporting characters that has always made Smythe stand out, and in this volume we not only expand upon previous characters and their motivations, but we also get to see new interactions between the characters that clearly set up or harken back to the source mythology. I really love seeing nods to tertiary players like Echo and Daphne, and Smythe opts to make these originally quite passive characters into three dimensional beings that I have fully come to care about (and which makes me nervous for their fates as the series goes on). The thing that really caught me by surprise was how suddenly invested I was in the burgeoning romance between Daphne, a flower nymph who is striving to be a fitness and beauty influencer, and Thanatos, God of Death who has been a resentful lackey to Hades and who has been plotting against Persephone with Minthe and Thetis. I never would have imagined these two interacting, and yet Smythe has built it up in a way that feels wholly natural, and gives Daphne the agency that she doesn’t get in the original myth (though as mentioned above, I’m very worried about where this is going).

Oh and new characters too! New characters that are fully representative of their original characterization, but still feel like their original intent. The biggest one in this Volume is that we finally get to meet Hephaestus, one of Zeus and Hera’s sons who, in the original myth, was ostracized from Olympus by Hera due to his disability (two club feet and inability to walk), but became a master craftsman and blacksmith. In this, it seems that he has extricated himself of his own choosing, and has an estrangement with his parents that is a bit more muddled. Perhaps it’s because he is an amputee, but you get the sense that it’s more about emotional unavailability from his parents (and the more we learn about Hera’s backstory, the more it becomes clear that being a neglected wife to Zeus is the LEAST of her traumas, which almost certainly affects her relationships with everyone). He is also more of a computer and tech wiz as opposed to a metallurgist, and I really, really loved that update. Oh, and now Leto is here too, aka the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and it’s pretty clear that HER appearance is going to set up the another big antagonistic arc for Apollo in this story. God he’s just the worst, and now we know that his mother played a part in that.

I’ve once again gone on and on in a review for this series, but “Lore Olympus: Volume Six” is another home run from Smythe. I’m always worried that it’s going to fall off, or start showing cracks, but man, it’s still going strong. I’m still wholly enamored.

Rating 9: New revelations, new relationships, and new threats are all emerging, but Smythe keeps the joy, humor, and heart in play.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume Six” isn’t included on many Goodreads lists just yet, but it would fit in on “Hades and Persephone”.

Serena’s Review: “The Fireborne Blade”

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Book: “The Fireborne Blade” by Charlotte Bond

Publishing Info: Tor, May 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Slay the dragon, find the blade. True love can’t be far behind…

Maddileh is a knight. There aren’t many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she’s a knight, and made of sterner stuff.

A minor infraction forces her to redeem her honor in the most dramatic way possible, she must retrieve the fabled Fireborne Blade from its keeper, legendary dragon the White Lady, or die trying. If history tells us anything, it’s that “die trying” is where to wager your coin.

Will Maddileh prove her mettle? Or will she end up like countless knights before her―as a puddle of gore and molten armor?

Review: This was an obvious request for me just based on the cover alone! I’m always on the lookout for the next great dragon book, and, of course, the heroine front and center also places it firmly in my wheel house for reading preferences! The plot synopsis also promised a lot of classic fantasy fun: knights, dragon-hunting, and dangerous adventures full of redemption and possibly romance! So, how did it all turn out?

Well, for the most part, well enough. I know that’s not a killer start to a review, but it also sums up my reading experience fairly well. There was nothing objectively wrong with this book, and, frankly, there was a lot to like during much of it. But while we’ve seen other books shine with a reduced page count (see “When Among Crows”), this one shows the other side of the equation, one where the overall impact and pacing of the book was hampered by its short length. But let’s start with the good stuff!

First of all, I really enjoyed the structure of this book and the way it introduced the dragons of this world. In between chapters, we had inserts from past knights’ experiences with dragons, dutifully recorded by the scribes of this world. These brief tales were often the most fun parts of the book, being hilarious and terrifying in their own right and neatly delivering a ton of world-building and lore regarding the dragons and their magic.

And as for the dragons, I appreciated the mix of the “classic” dragon archetype alongside some creative new takes on their magic. For the most part, these dragons are the sort readers are most familiar with: live in caves with hordes of treasure, come out every once in a while to terrorize the land, and, of course, the best foes for a knight looking to prove their worth! But, alongside these familiar elements, the inclusion of the magical dangers that occur when a dragon dies added the dash of something new that I needed.

I also liked our main character and the cast of side characters that surrounded her. But here is where things began to fall apart a bit for me. While I liked what we were given, I also was left wishing we had gotten a bit more of a character arch. I liked the broad sweeps that we had, but the story had to rush through so many things, especially towards the end, that I never felt like the emotional stakes were as high as I was wanting. And, as for the pacing, the last fourth of the book felt incredibly rushed. I thought the way everything was resolved was clever, but it almost happened so quickly that it was over before I had fully realized what was even happening!

Overall, this was a fun, fast read, but it never quite rose to the highs that I was hoping for! The incredible potential almost ended up working against it, as I was increasingly aware of the few numbers of pages I had left as I made my way through the book. That said, if you’re looking for a high fantasy novella that delivers all of the classic fantasy goods, this is one to check out!

Rating 7: Checks all of the right boxes, but a rushed conclusion dropped my reading experience down a bit.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Fireborne Blade” can be found on this Goodreads list: Sapphic Fiction 2024

Kate’s Review: “My Darling Dreadful Thing”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “My Darling Dreadful Thing” by Johanna van Veen

Publishing Info: Poisoned Pen Press, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: In a world where the dead can wake and walk among us, what is truly real?

Roos Beckman has a spirit companion only she can see. Ruth—strange, corpse-like, and dead for centuries—is the only good thing in Roos’ life, which is filled with sordid backroom séances organized by her mother. That is, until wealthy young widow Agnes Knoop attends one of these séances and asks Roos to come live with her at the crumbling estate she inherited upon the death of her husband. The manor is unsettling, but the attraction between Roos and Agnes is palpable. So how does someone end up dead?

Roos is caught red-handed, but she claims a spirit is the culprit. Doctor Montague, a psychologist tasked with finding out whether Roos can be considered mentally fit to stand trial, suspects she’s created an elaborate fantasy to protect her from what really happened. But Roos knows spirits are real; she’s loved one of them. She’ll have to prove her innocence and her sanity, or lose everything.

Review: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC of this novel!

I do love me a scary story that involves a séance or two, as the idea of speaking to the dead is a trope in horror that I have been a fan of ever since I saw “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” as a little girl (the BEST Bill and Ted story, in my opinion, and not just because of Missy’s séance club). I also love Gothic horror stories, and Gothic shenanigans and séances go together OH so very well. Because of this it shouldn’t be any surprise that I was super game to read “My Darling Dreaful Thing”, a Gothic horror story about a young woman who has a spirit attached to her, and who catches the attention of a wealthy young widow after performing a fake séance. Though our protagonist’s ability to take her spirit friend inside of her to perform is very real. Or is it? Which is the question at hand after someone ends up dead. YUP, I was SOLD.

There is so much to like about this book. First and foremost, I really loved the setting of 1950s Netherlands, with the Second World War still bearing wounds. It is the perfect set up for Roos, our protagonist, to be used for grieving people in fake séances at the behest of her mother, because of COURSE a fascination with speaking to those who’ve been lost would be palpable in this setting. Roos does, however, have an actual spirit attached to her. This spirit, Ruth, appears to Roos as a decaying corpse (as it seems that she was alive centuries prior and thrown into a bog), but is her only companionship as her mother is severely abusive and their clients are either desperate with grief, or shady and violent. So when a wealthy young widow named Agnes Knoop meets Roos during a séance, and is so taken with her that she wants to bring her to her dilapidated country manor Rozentuin, Roos jumps at the chance to escape her life with her mother. It is there that she confides that she also has a spirit guide, and the two women form a bond. I really liked this set up, and I REALLY liked the descriptions of Ruth, the grotesque physical imagery being well described and yes, super scary, even if Ruth is something of a comfort for Roos. But we know from the jump that something isn’t right, as Roos has been accused of a murder and those around her believe that Ruth is actually a hallucination of a psychotic mind. The mystery about the murder is an engaging one, and went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting, which made for a more satisfying read because I was genuinely surprised and shocked by a few of the twists at hand.

And, like with any good Gothic horror novel, some of the greatest strengths of “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is the ambiguity and unreliability of our main character Roos, whether it’s regarding Ruth as a presence that is haunting her, or the mental state that Roos herself is in as the story unfolds. We are given a view into her own perspective through her first person narration, but we are also given an outside view through the notes of the doctor assessing her in preparation for her trial. The doctor sees a very mentally unwell woman with delusions due to a massive amount of trauma, and what I liked about this aspect is that 1) it makes for a mystery within the mystery of who has died and whether Roos did bit, and 2) this could ALSO be unreliable because of the time and place of the story and the way that medicine has a tendency to write women off as hysterical. I always love the way that a Gothic story can create more questions than answers, and this one does that very well and in unexpected ways.

If you like Gothic horror as well as Sapphic romances, “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is sure to be a winner. Just know that, like so many great Gothic horror tales before it, there is tragedy to behold, from many sources. So steel yourself for that as well.

Rating 8: A creepy and unnerving horror story peppered with a tragic story of love and loss, “My Darling Dreadful Thing” is a Gothic tale that will please fans of the genre.

Reader’s Advisory:

“My Darling Dreadful Thing” is included on the Goodreads lists “Sapphic Fiction 2024”, and “Queer Horror”.

Book Club Review: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Our current theme is Centuries, where we were given a random century and had to pick a book based during that time period.  For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Book: “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare

Publishing Info: Houghton Mifflin, 1958

Where Did We Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Century: 17th

Book Description: Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the “witch” is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!

Kate’s Thoughts

I read “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” in grade school, but I hadn’t ever revisited it and I can’t even tell you why, because I remember that I enjoyed it. I think that it was always in the back of my mind when it comes to children’s literature, but as time went on it just kind of fell further and further back. So when it was the choice for the 17th Century for our book club theme, I was eager to go back and re-read a book that I read as a ten year old through the eyes of an almost forty year old. And I’m happy to report that it holds up pretty well! But then, that’s probably because some things haven’t really changed, either from the McCarthy Era, when the book was written, or the times of witchcraft panic, when the book takes place.

I think that Speare did a really good job of laying out some pretty heavy topics, like prejudice, Othering, religious panic, and misogyny, in a way that is easily digestible for a middle grade audience. I found Kit to be an interesting heroine that is easy for a young reader to relate to, and her story of befriending a Quaker in a Puritan community who is rumored to be a witch (because OH NO SHE’S A QUAKER) is engaging, and at times quite suspenseful, given that the town starts to think that both Kit and Hannah (the so called witch) are up to no good and devilry, all because they are different and therein seen as untrustworthy outsiders. As mentioned above, this was initially written as a metaphor for McCarthyism and the Red Scare, where people were turning on and accusing others of being Communists and blacklisting them. But it’s so typical that we see this over and over in American history, and are seeing a form of it play out again right now with LGBTQIA+ people, and immigrants, and other marginalized groups. Some things never change, and hate towards the Other is one of those things. But that just makes the book relevant still, and it’s written with a keen eye that makes it all the stronger.

“The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is another classic children’s lit book that is still timely and interesting, and I am happy that book club gave me the push to give it another go!

Serena’s Thoughts

Like Kate, I read this one as a upper grade schooler/middle schooler. But I’ve also read it several times since. I believe I read it again during high school at some point. And then in my mid-twenties when I was building up my book collection, I stumbled upon a copy of this book on the “free” shelf at my local library, so I grabbed it and, of course, read it again right away! So, while it’s probably been a decade since my last re-read, I’m fairly familiar with the overall story. And given that I’ve somehow managed to read it across every decade of my life so far, I think it’s safe to say that both A.) I like it, and B.) it’s the kind of book that has a lot of cross-over appeal, no matter the age of the reader!

A few things stood out to me in this re-read. Like Kate mentioned, there’s a universal appeal to this story. Not only is Kit the sort of protagonist who will always speak to teens and younger readers (her combination of spunk as well as frustration with the rules around her), but the story talks on perennial struggles of humanity and society. Kate already talked about the Other-ing of those who are different, and the ways in which groups of people can spiral out of control into fear and desperation quite quickly and completely irrationally. But one aspect that I had focused less on in the past were the book’s secondary themes of capital “A” acceptance. In that, while the story is very much focused on the “witches” and the typical sorts of “others” that we know have been feared and hated throughout history (and whose counterparts are easy to spot today as well), it also subtly draws attentions to the sorts of judgements that we make at everyday moments, judgements that often reduce people to their worst characteristics without touching on the rest of their being, their context, or their priorities in life.

First of all, we see this in Kit herself, the heroine and “good guy” of our story, but also a character who grew up with slaves and very much has not thought about the realities of this horror until it is bluntly pointed out to her. This is, of course, very much of the time. And while the story doesn’t excuse Kit, it also presents this flaw of hers alongside all of the elements that still make her the heroine. She learns, and to learn, it requires others to see her flaws and, instead of shunning and shaming, to help her grow.

Further, we also see this in Kit’s uncle, a character who can be incredibly unlikable for much of the story. But as the plot progresses, we see Kit’s estimation of him slowly adjust as she’s exposed to more and more of his core personality, seeing what he cares about most and how that shapes his views. By the end, she recognizes him as the flawed individual he is, but also someone who loves his family and is doing what he thinks is best, even if there are choices that Kit doesn’t agree with or understand. So, while I think the core theme around witches and Other-ing is just as important as ever, in this re-read, I appreciated the time and care the book took to look as these lesser versions of similar judgements and how important it is to humanize those we don’t understand.

Kate’s Rating 8: A classic in children’s literature that feels as timely as ever, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is a powerful book about being Othered and ostracized by those who fear things that are different.

Serena’s Rating 8: For a short-ish, young adult book, this story still packs a powerful punch regarding themes of acceptance, Other-ing, and the ways in which people can let fear drive their life.

Book Club Questions

1. There are several different women characters in this book. If you were living in this time period, which of these characters would you like to trade places with if only for a moment?
2. What are your thoughts on Puritan Society as portrayed in this book?
3. There are a few mentions of the slave trade and slavery in this book, as Kit comes from a plantation on Barbados. What were your thoughts on how it was addressed? Do you think it reflects the time that it was written?
4. There were multiple romantic relationships in this story. Did you have a favorite couple?
5. Are there any more modern books with similar settings or themes to this book that you have enjoyed? What were they? What made them different from this one? How are they similar?
6. What did you think about the conclusion of the story? Did it feel realistic to you?

Reader’s Advisory

“The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is included on the Goodreads lists “Teen Historical Fiction”, and “Wise Women, Witches, Midwives, Healers, and Strong Girls!”.

Next Book Club Pick: “What The Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon

Serena’s Review: “The North Wind”

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Book: “North Wind” by Alexandria Warwick

Publishing Info: S&S/Saga Press, May 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Wren of Edgewood is no stranger to suffering. With her parents gone, it’s Wren’s responsibility to ensure she and her sister survive the harsh and endless winter, but if the legends are to be believed, their home may not be safe for much longer.

For three hundred years, the land surrounding Edgewood has been encased in ice as the Shade, a magical barrier that protects the townsfolk from the Deadlands beyond, weakens. Only one thing can stop the Shade’s fall: the blood of a mortal woman bound in wedlock to the North Wind, a dangerous immortal whose heart is said to be as frigid as the land he rules. And the time has come to choose his bride.

When the North Wind sets his eyes on Wren’s sister, Wren will do anything to save her—even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. But mortal or not, Wren won’t go down without a fight…

Review: I’ve had some trouble recently with fantasy/romantasy stories that are billed as read-alikes to “Beauty and the Beast” or “Hades and Persephone.” To be fair, these are fairly difficult romances to represent in a way that both tells a good love story but also doesn’t make one or both characters fairly unlikable or hard to empathize with. Too often the “Beauty/Persephone” character gets too easily distracted by the hero’s hotness to remember she’s angry and a prisoner. And too often the “Beast/Hades” character is more of a raging a**hat than a romantic interest. All of that to say, I was both excited and nervous to pick up this book, which clearly was going to a tell a story involving these types of characters.

Well, this is how you write these sorts of characters! The story itself is great as well, but I really think that books like this really live and die on how well the main characters are represented. And here, both of them are fantastic. Wren, of course, being our perspective character, was the most important of the two, and I really enjoyed her character arc. As I mentioned above, here is a heroine who retains her sense of self, not one to be distracted into forgetting her anger or suspicion by the sight of a chiseled jaw. Instead, Wren’s story focuses more on her own journey, one that tackles not only trust, but also coping with her life choices (particularly her struggle with alcoholism) and with the toxic familial relationships that have severely impacted her sense of self. While I think the discussion of addiction was well handled, I was even more impressed by the way this author navigated the complicated sibling relationship between Wren and her twin sister. Wren’s story is one of coming to understand how she has previously defined herself and reclaiming her own agency over her actions, choices, and life.

And while she is exploring these concepts, a significant amount of the story is still devoted to her challenging relationship with the North Wind. She doesn’t trust this man, and indeed, I was pleased to see her following through on her distrust and anger throughout a large chunk of the book, almost the entire first half. This very much makes the story a slow burn romance, of the sort that I prefer. Because as both Wren and Boreas come to understand one another, we slowly see them dropping their shields. Love cannot come from lust alone, and this book does an excellent job of prioritizing their growing emotional connection before delivering the goods in the spicey scenes. I also loved the excellent snark and banter between the two, something that continues throughout the book, even when the characters begin to grow closer. Their dynamic is compelling to the end.

I also enjoyed the North Wind and his story. The book doesn’t shy away from grappling with the harsher points of his character, and I was also surprised with some of the reveals that came later in the story. There were some real wallops that come in heavy towards the end of the book, which I think helped add some true depth to this character. He’s also the quiet, stoic romantic hero that always particularly appeals to me, so there’s that.

Aside from the characters, I very much enjoyed the world-building that went into this story. There were many familiar elements, but it also all came together in interesting ways. I also know that this is the first book in a series, each seeming to follow one of the four brothers, the gods/Winds. That being the case, we meet a few characters here that are sure to show up in future books, and I’m especially interested in how one character will be dealt with, given the events of this story.

Overall, if you enjoy romantasy, this is a great slow-burn romantic tale. There was an excellent balance between the fantasy and the love story, and the two main characters were well-written and conceived. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out!

Rating 8: A perfect example of how to blend the fantasy and romance genres, with two incredible characters at its heart!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The North Wind” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Feel-good romantasy and Best Books About Mythology

Kate’s Review: “A Friend Indeed”

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Book: “A Friend Indeed” by Elka Ray

Publishing Info: Blackstone Publishing Inc, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received a finished copy from Roger Charlie.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: When single mom Jo Dykstra was at her lowest—jobless and penniless—her childhood friend Dana McFarlane helped her out bigtime by securing her a teaching job and thus an opportunity for a new life in the affluent Pacific Northwest town of Glebes Bay. So, when Jo gets a frantic late-night call from Dana, sobbing and desperate for help, it feels like a chance to help her friend in return.

The last thing Jo expects to see when she arrives at Dana’s oceanfront mansion? Her friend’s handsome and wealthy husband, Stan, dead, sprawled face down on the floor. Dana admits to killing her husband following years of secret abuse and begs Jo not to call the police. For nearly two decades, Dana’s marriage and family had looked picture perfect. Who’d ever believe that pillar-of-the-community Stan was a monster? Determined to cover up her husband’s killing and shield her kids from scandal, Dana convinces Jo to help her dispose of the body.

But the cover-up starts to crumble when a blackmailer threatens to expose their crime. Hounded by gossipy neighbors, ill-fated lovers, and zealous cops, truth and lies are laid bare between Jo and Dana, putting their families in danger and threatening to shatter a thirty-year friendship. Shocking and fast-paced, A Friend Indeed is a riveting tale about the power of friendship and the deadly weight of lies.

Review: Thank you to Roger Charlie for sending me a finished copy of this novel!

Summer is so close I can almost taste it, and while it’s not my favorite season (uh, it’s actually probably my LEAST favorite season?), I do like having pool time while the weather is hot. Because at the pool I like to bring easy to read and entertaining books. And when I think of a good poolside read, I think of the kind of book like “A Friend Indeed” by Elka Ray. A tantalizing thriller, with some shady and desperate characters, and some far hidden secrets between friends who find themselves in over their heads when a body lands at their feet. PERFECT POOL READING!

(source)

As someone who has always enjoyed the tongue in cheek ‘a real friend will help you dispose of the body’ meme because of its gallows humor, it’s no surprise that the plot of “A Friend Indeed” is a huge plus in my eyes. When Jo gets a panicked phone call from her long time best friend Dana to come to her house in the middle of the night, she drops everything to help her. When she finds Dana standing over the body of her now dead husband Stan, she is horrified. but decides to help her dispose of the corpse. It’s a great set up on its own, and then you throw in a potential blackmail storyline as well as the rampant gossip of suburbia and it has all the ingredients for an addictive thriller. And I was pretty sucked in. The pacing is fast, the dual perspectives between Dana and Jo are well done, and I loved the examination of a close friendship that is REALLY being tested because of the crazy circumstances… And how perhaps Dana isn’t being fully open with Jo. I really enjoyed seeing both of these women trying to keep it together, and I really liked the examination of their friendship through the years and how, perhaps, it’s not as give and take as it seems. I had a hard time putting this one down because I was so taken with the breakneck pacing and the interesting perspectives of both women.

But I think that where this one stumbled a bit for me was with the amount of reveals, twists, and shocking developments that it throws at the reader. I’m a bit of the belief that less is more when it comes to thrillers and mysteries when doling out twisty moments, and that if you oversaturate the narrative with surprises and shocks it becomes less effective, bordering on tedious. And I felt like that happened a bit with “A Friend Indeed”. I don’t want to delve too deeply into it because I don’t want to spoil anything, but it felt like I was being bombarded with so many reveals, so many shocking moments, and so many twists and turns that it was too much. What could have been a tight thriller with some serious punch got bogged down in the need to be unpredictable, and that derailed my experience a bit. And of course we got another last minute twist. And we all know how I feel about those.

“A Friend Indeed” is going to be a good choice for a pool or beach read with the upcoming summer, as it’s entertaining and addictive. I just wish that it hadn’t relied on too many gotcha moments.

Rating 7: It has a really addictive mystery and it kept me interested until the end, but there are a few too many twists and reveals for my liking.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Friend Indeed” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but if you liked the Netflix show “Dead To Me” you will probably like this.

Serena’s Review: “When Among Crows”

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Book: “When Among Crows” by Veronica Roth

Publishing Info: Tor, May 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Pain is Dymitr’s calling. To slay the monsters he’s been raised to kill, he had to split his soul in half to make a sword from his own spine. Every time he draws it, he gets blood on his hands.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. When her mother died, a family curse to witness horrors committed by the Holy Order was passed onto her. The curse will claim her life, as it did her mother’s, unless she can find a cure.

One fateful night in Chicago, Dymitr comes to Ala with a bargain: her help in finding the legendary witch Baba Jaga in exchange for an enchanted flower that just might cure her. Desperate, and unaware of what Dymitr really is, Ala agrees.

But they only have one day before the flower dies . . . and Ala’s hopes of breaking the curse along with it.

Review: I feel like I say this every time I review a Veronica Roth book, but I’m continuously surprised by the trajectory I’ve taken with regards to reading her books. I was not a fan of “Divergent,” to the point that I didn’t even finish the trilogy. And then I completely skipped her next few books before picking up “Chosen Ones” and finding that I absolutely loved it! Since then, I’ve read several books by her and really enjoyed them all! So now, here we are: an author who originally wrote a trilogy I couldn’t even finish is now a “must read” writer for me, someone whose new books are immediately prioritized on my TBR list. Strange how these things work!

Beyond the fact that I enjoy Roth as a writer now, this novella would always appeal to me. I enjoy this sort of urban fantasy that pulls together lesser known fantasy beings and re-figures them into a current environment. On top of that, Baba Yaga is always a winning factor! And all of this lived up perfectly to my expectations! What added to the already interesting fantasy beings was the way their societies and abilities were woven into the setting of Chicago. This was one of those books where a sense of place was visceral and really added to the overall experience. I’ve only been to Chicago a handful of times, but the descriptions of the various neighborhoods and locations of the city really added to the overall feel of the story.

As for the magical beings, I really enjoyed the main three that we experienced, all who fed off of various human emotions: sadness, anger, and fear. The creativity that went into imaging how these types of beings would exist alongside humans in a seamless manner was incredible, and I enjoyed the slow exploration of how this little underworld and society existed alongside the bustling human city. On top of this, we have the monster hunters with their own horrific magic. This was all helped by focusing the story on our three main characters, all three of whom come from various parts of this world and can give us new insights as the story progresses. They also have burgeoning connections that are built and revealed between them.

I also really enjoyed the themes of pain, regret, and how we live with the choices we’ve made. For such a short book, this story really packs a wallop with the depths with which it explores some of these darker themes. We see this exploration come with the balance struck between pain and power, as well as pain as penitence. Between these deeper topics, the excellent world-building, and the incredibly complex and sympathetic characters, this book is a case study in how much a skilled writer can do, even with a very short page count.

On one hand, this book feels like a perfectly packaged story, complete with all of the elements one looks for in a full-length novel. So, of course, I don’t want unnecessarily added pages just to make it longer. But on the other hand, man, I wish we could explore this world and characters more! Perhaps, if we’re very lucky, we’ll get another book in this world. But as it stands, I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a new take on what the urban fantasy genre can offer!

Rating 9: Fantastic! With a rich setting and sympathetic characters, Roth proves just how much fantasy world-building you can do even with a short page count!

Reader’s Advisory:

“When Among Crows” can be found on this Goodreads list, Can’t Wait Books of 2024, and should be on this list, Baba Yaga.

Kate’s Review: “When She Was Me”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “When She Was Me” by Marlee Bush

Publishing Info: Poisoned Pen Press, May 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: There’s only one way out of these woods…

Ever since that night, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. As the sole permanent residents of Cabin Two, their refuge on an isolated Tennessee campground, they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies. Just the two of them, Cassie and Lenora against the world. The peace and quiet is almost enough to make them forget what happened all those years ago. Almost.

Until a teenage girl camping at the neighboring cabin goes missing, and the memories come rushing back. As the crime becomes ever more recognizable—they know better than anyone that so-called ‘happy families’ can be anything but—each sister suspects the other knows more than she’s letting on….

Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it’s too late.

Review: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an eARC of this novel via NetGalley!

What can I say, I love a good cabin the woods story, as I myself love a cabin in the woods. You know, assuming it’s not one of those pesky horror movie ones where everything goes terribly wrong. But I do love a book where there’s a cabin in the woods where everything goes horribly wrong, so of course I was interested in “When She Was Me” by Marlee Bush. The cover is clearly SCREAMING ‘I’m a cabin in the woods and things are about to go wrong!’ It also has twin sisters, a missing girl, some unreliable narrators, and promises of dark secrets. All of this is totally my jam!

To start, I really liked getting into the minds of twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, who have a shared traumatic past and a fierce devotion to one another. A devotion that is probably bordering on unhealthy. We jump between their two perspectives, learning about each other both from their own thoughts, but also sometimes from the other sister’s perception of the narrator at the time. I especially liked how this device made for. both better insight as well as a potential layer of unreliability. After all, Cassie may know more about Lenora than Lenora would like to admit (and vice versa), but there may also be misconceptions each has about the other due to their shared history and shared secrets. Sometimes when this kind of story of siblings, especially with twins, is taken on it can be have mixed results, but this was the strongest aspect of the book for me.

Now the mystery itself. It is definitely easy to read, and entertaining when the reader is in the thick of it. But I will say that it was pretty standard for a thriller, with all the boxes checked that you would expect to be checked (unreliable narrators, an isolated setting that makes for more difficult maneuvering, twist after twist after twist), without really doing too much outside of the box, or doing it in a way that is unique. There are misdirections that I could predict coming (though not to their full resolution or reveal, I will say), and I wasn’t invested in many of the characters outside of Cassie and Lenora, and even then that was more because of their dynamic and not because I was particularly attached to them as characters. It’s serviceable to be sure and I could see it being a perfect breezy beach read, and one that I enjoyed in the moment. But it didn’t really stand out from the litany of thrillers that came before it.

“When She Was Me” is entertaining and an enjoyable read. When I was in it I was in it. But it didn’t wow me as much as I had hoped it would.

Rating 6: It’s a pretty standard thriller, entertaining and addictive, but not really reinventing the wheel.

Reader’s Advisory:

“When She Was Me” is included in the Goodreads article “42 New Reader-Approved Mysteries for Spring”.