Okay Folks, strap in - it's a wild ride this month!
Whenever I have a break between school sessions, I read - a LOT. More than usual because I have more free time! Lucky me, right?
At any rate, I have been all over the genre landscape in the last couple weeks so let's pace ourselves. Anyone who knows me even a little will know that I am an historical fiction junkie. Three excellent entries this time are Gabaldon's Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, Gregory's The Lady of the Rivers, and Riley's Island Queen.
If you love the Outlander series by Gabaldon, you won't be disappointed with Seven Stones. Okay, maybe a little because some of the stories are just too damn short! Nevertheless, they're all written to the exacting standards we've come to expect from this author and well worth the read.
The Lady of the Rivers centers on the life of Jaquetta, Duchess of Bedford and eventual mother of Elizabeth Woodville, future Queen of England. Gregory is a master story teller and fans of fiction set in the Plantagenet/Tudor eras will not be disappointed.
Ah, Island Queen. Because this is already going to be a long blog post, I'll do my best to keep it short. READ THIS BOOK. Focusing on a period of history not currently en vogue and on a little known, but deserving historical figure, Riley sweeps us off on an intensely interesting and harrowing narrative as she explores the life of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, slave, free woman, landowner, successful businesswoman of the West Indies. Again, READ THIS BOOK.
Little Universes by Heather Demetrios is a contemporary fiction work which delves deep into the relationship between sisters after the sudden, tragic deaths of their parents. The sisters couldn't be more different in their responses to the tragedy, nor in their outlooks on life in general. Still, they circle back to each other in the little ways only siblings can.
Completely outside my comfort zone, Evolution of a Monster by J. Steffy, took me completely by surprise. Steffy provides readers with a rare look at the diary of a serial killer. Terrifying stuff. More disturbing is that readers may actually wind up feeling sympathy for the diary's author. Yikes. Feel free to start doubting yourself. And, don't bother expecting a satisfying ending. You won't get one.
Cats of the Pyramids, by Paul Nelson, is a gem of middle grade writing. Paul draws on his years of experience teaching special needs students and caring for his autistic son to craft this beautiful story which showcases fully developed autistic heroes! Here's a hint...autism isn't a handicap, it's a rare gift, a connection to powers beyond human ken. 10/10 recommend this one for middle grade readers and those wanting an alternative explanation for some very special differences.
For a completely new twist on Greek mythology and supernatural beings, dig into Emma's Fury by Linda Rainier. Set in modern times, readers learn the old gods aren't dead and are still engaged in universal power struggles. While Rainier's prose occasionally gets a little high falutin' at times, don't let this stop you from engaging in Emma's battle to save the world from the devious Thanatos as he sets his plans in motion to reclaim his 'rightful' place in the pantheon.
And last but certainly not least, Trail Markers by Cym Aros. Full confession, I have read all 5 books in this series but opted to only use the cover of the first book in this post. Beautifully and brutally rendered, Aros tells the story of Jesse Thomson Franklin and his journey to self-acceptance. He is the illegitimate son of wealthy rancher, Pony Express rider, Union Army veteran, POW camp survivor and so much more. His dedication to service and those who love him are both his salvation and his downfall. I promise, if you read the first book, you'll want to read all five.
Classes started back up for me this week so I'll have to curb my extracurricular reading just a bit. You know, back to 3-4 books a week instead. Thanks for reading and as always, I hope you discovered some new imagination candy.
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