Category: New books

The Small Museum

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Jody Cooksley

What a wonderfully creepy novel about gruesome family secrets hidden behind the facade of a “respectable” family. Madeline Brewster is to be married off to a stranger in an attempt to help her family recover from a scandal. Her husband is none other than the most eligible bachelor in the county, Lucius Everley, a wealthy doctor in need of a young, compliant wife. After the nuptials and Madeline is moved to the Everley estate, she is pretty much abandoned by her husband. Not only is she friendless and alone, but the manor staff treats her like something dragged in from the bottom of a shoe. Sure, her sister-in-law Grace pops in at times, but when she does, Maddie can’t help but feel Grace is taking every opportunity to be the household’s mistress. Soon, in her isolation, Maddie begins to hear strange noises at night, most disturbingly a baby crying. Also, random objects start to appear in her bedroom, objects that once belonged to Lucius’s mother. Madeline begins to suspect something terrible is happening under the roof of her new home; either that or she is going mad.

Well written and highly suspenseful. Cooksley is very successful in slowly building suspense, especially through the atmosphere and the trail of clues she leaves along the way to the climax of the novel.
 
Trigger warning: Infant death

Thank you to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for the free copy.

Sweet Fury

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by Sarah Bischoff

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was the soap-operatic suspenseful novel I needed to get me out of a minor reading slump. Told from various points of view, the reader soon realizes they cannot trust any narrator.

Lila Crayne is beautiful and brilliant. She is THE most sought-after actress of the moment. She has everything she could have ever wished for: beauty, fame, a handsome famous actor as a fiance and now the role of a lifetime. Lila and her husband are producing a feminist version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night” (a rendition I would love to read in real life). For Lila to fully envelope her character, she seeks therapy under the care of Johna Gabriel, who coincidentally has an infatuation with F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story is told in the third person narrative with chapters in first person under the guise of Jonah’s private patient notes on Lila and Lila’s journal. Soon, forbidden attractions occur, secrets are revealed, and half-truths are believed, culminating in a shocking act of violence. 

I enjoyed this novel’s pace, plot, and finding very few characters with redeeming characteristics. Now, I want to go out and read Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the free copy

A Sorceress Coes To Call

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by T Kingfisher

I immediately knew I would love this book because Kingfisher is a tried and true author. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a take on the fairytale The Goose Girl. So, If you’re a fan of Kingfisher and fairytale retelling, this book is perfect for you. 

14-year-old Corderlia’s mother, Evangeline, takes cohesive control to a new level. You see, Evangeline is secretly a sorceress whose “gift”, if you could call it that, is to place an “obedience” spell on anyone she chooses. This spell causes a person to do Evangeline’s bidding while being conscious that what they are saying and how they are acting is not of their doing…like being a marionette on a string. When Evangeline’s “benefactor” cuts off all monetary support, she sets off to town to find a wealthy suitor who will support the life she desires. 

Meanwhile, a woman by the name of Hester wakes up one morning with a sense of dread. She knows some ill fate is about to settle on her house, and sure enough, she is right when “doom” arrives in the form of a beautiful woman bent on seducing Hester’s brother Samuel. Even though Hester is focused on figuring out Evangeline’s motives, she is empathetic towards Cordelia, and it soon becomes evident that Cordelia is terrified of her mother, fueling Hester’s premonition. 

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It’s an entertaining fantasy with just the right amount of suspense and violence. I especially liked Hester’s character; her practicality, humour, and sense of sarcasm made her my favourite.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and Netgalley for the copy.

The Lost Apprentice

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by Tara O’Toole

This novel was just the right thing to get me out of my reading rut. The worst thing possible has happened to Fiadh Whelan: her beloved cousin Muriel has gone missing and is presumed dead, and Faidh suspects that Murial’s coworkers are the only people who know the truth behind her cousin’s disappearance. To get close to these suspects, Faidh had to infiltrate the law firm where her cousin was working. Luckily, Faidh herself was finishing law school and was about to be assigned to a firm that would mentor her in her final term…the same firm her cousin was assigned Heron Early LLP.
There is something sinister happening at Heron Early; law apprentices are being kidnapped and forced to engage in death-defying tasks, all to become part of a secret society of lawyers who dabble in magic and psychological coercion. Will Faidh muster the courage and skill to pass these tasks? She must succeed in these tasks and get to the truth to find closure in Murial’s disappearance.
I love novels set in Ireland, and O’Toole does a lovely job of developing a wonderfully detailed setting and subsequent atmosphere that successfully immerses the reader. This novel is filled with suspense, humour and a dash of romance. It’s a perfect read to help get you out of a reading slump. Although a bit predictable, it was engaging enough to keep me reading, and I finished it in a day. I will definitely be on the lookout for more novels written by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy.

The Puzzle Box

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by Danielle Trussoni

The first Trussoni book I read was Angelology…if you haven’t read it, you should. Since then, Trussoni has written a number of books, one of which was The Puzzle Master, where our protagonist is Mike Brink, a fascinating character with ‘acquired savant syndrome. You see since Mike suffered a traumatic brain injury whilst playing football, he’s been able to create and solve intricate puzzles. He sees and, at times, feels patterns and solutions to the most complex and compelling puzzles. In the novel The Puzzle Box, Mike is challenged by Japan’s Imperial Family to open the infamous Dragon Box. But solving this puzzle is more than problematic. It’s deadly. Scores of individuals have died attempting. 

This novel is great fun. I find the character of Mike Brink fascinating; he is brilliant, socially awkward, and silently lonely, and it is hard for someone to understand him and his gift. The premise and plot of this book are highly engaging, and you will have read it in its entirety in a day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the free copy.

Swan

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By Sisdura Ludwig

What drew me first to this book was its cover. What a beautiful, whimsical piece of folk art. What drew me second was the fact that it is a novel in verse. I absolutely adore a novel in verse, especially for middle and high school students.
Swan is a poignant true story about a 12-year-old girl named Anna. Born in 1858 in Millbrook, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Anna was different from other girls; in fact, Anna was different from EVERYONE. You see, Anna is significant, not just big, but giant. At twelve, she is 6 feet 10 inches tall and is considered a wonder by everyone from the neighbour to the shoe pedlar. 
But Anna doesn’t want to be a wonder. She wants to be a regular girl with pretty shoes. 
As she ages, Anna discovers a way to use her peculiar size to help her family and figures. If everyone is going to look and stare at her anyway, she might as well make money to support her family, so she joins the circus as a “curiosity’.
Ludwig is a beautiful writer. Her word choice and lyricism are charming and sincere. Swan will serve as an invaluable mentor text in junior and senior high, showcasing the power of language and storytelling. Some examples of her beautiful writing are;
“I don’t know why 
God made the ground
So far from my head.”
“If God created a perfect world 
In only seven days
Why don’t I fit anywhere?”
What a fantastic discussion you could have around these two quotes alone!

Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing for the free copy.

The Bookseller’s Wife

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Book 1 of Chiswell Street Series
by Jane Davis


Dorcus Turton comes from a family whose name historically holds power and respect. However, as the only surviving heir, her life has been challenging. Upon the death of her mother, her father started a downward struggle of alcoholism and gambling debt. Dorcus runs a girls’ school out of their home and takes up some seamstress tasks, but she can still not stave off the debt collectors, so she resorts to taking in renters. James Lackington and his wife turn out to be more than just renters; they are a wonderful addition to Dorcus’s life, with their kindness and generosity and their tremendous love of reading and books, something with which Dorcus strongly identifies. The Lackington’s dream is to become booksellers, and with the help of Dorcus and her father, their dream soon comes to fruition. Of course, tragedy strikes in the form of sickness, death and heartbreak, and Dorcus’s life drastically changes, but will it be for the better?
I really liked this book….up until the last third. The author went from a wonderful exploration of a resilient woman’s life during Georgian London to a focus on the politics of the time. The political atmosphere of the time is, of course, essential to character choice and the advancement of the plot. I just wished it was more woven into the plot instead of reading like a textbook. I was also a little disappointed in the book’s ending; it seemed rather abrupt, but then I realized that this book is the first in a series. So now I know that this isn’t the end of Dorcus’s story.

Thank you to Rossdale Print Productions and Netgalley for the free copy.

Lake of Souls

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Ann Leckie

Ann Leckie is a brilliant author. Science Fiction isn’t usually my genre of choice; however, some of my favourite books are Sci-Fic, so I’m not sure why I don’t choose it more often. Maybe because I didn’t have access to ANYTHING sci-fi as a child???. In this particular anthology, there are newer stories Leckie has written and stories set in the world of The Raven Tower novel. I have chosen to comment on a few of the stories that sit outside the world of the Raven Tower. The Novela Lake of Souls is one of these. As a narrative, it has SO many layers: world-building, exciting development, and a variety of deep themes of identity through place and family adventure, imagination, and curiosity, all of which would instigate and feed thought and discussion. 

The anthology features a diverse range of stories. Another Word for World explores the importance of communication, especially in power dynamics and across generations. The Justified serves as a mentor text for political sci-fi with dystopian elements. The VERY short tale, Footprints , is a creepy atmospheric tale about a potentially human little girl and her malevolent ‘toy’ bear (great for teaching atmosphere and indeterminant ending).Each story offers a unique reading experience, showcasing Leckie’s versatility as an author.

This anthology of Ann Leckie’s works is not just a collection of entertaining stories that can be used as a suitable resource for study in a high school English class. Leckie’s mastery of storytelling and her beautiful gift of prose makes her works engaging. Moreover, her skill as a world-builder, particularly in science fiction, adds an educational dimension to her stories, making them credible for academic study. 

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the free copy.

The Foxglove King and the Hemlock Queen

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books 1 and 2 of the Nightshade Crown by Hannah Witten

The Foxglove King

Who doesn’t like a novel about a young woman who has escaped from a cult using only her wits and her ability to wield Death Magic. Unfortunately her wits and her ability aren’t enough for her to escape her entrapment by the Presque Mort (yay for Warrior Monks). Lore is forced by the Presque Mort to work for the king, using her gift to find out what is behind the death of entire villages in the realm (these deaths are being blamed on an enemy country thus causing political tension). What a fabulous premise for great action. 

During this time, Lore becomes entangled in two complicated relationships; one to Gabrial, himself a warrior monk (so yes I’m partial to Gabrial) and the other to Prince Basitan the “pot stirring” heir to the throne.

The Foxglove King is an easy, enjoyable read with a likable heroine and a plot sprinkled with politics, the supernatural and glimmers of romance that is bound to develop in subsequent books.

A perfect series to start this summer!

The Hemlock Queen

So I had to take the time to read the first of Nightshade Crown Series before I could start The Hemlock Queen. Maybe I needed a palate cleanser of a different genre before I read the second in this series because I found the plot a bit plodding and therefore didn’t enjoy it as much as the first.

One of my favourite characters from the series is Gabriel but we didn’t see him as much and therefore was only mildly involved in the plot and in Lore’s character development.

Although I was bored at times, I still enjoyed being immersed in the world building and I still love Lore as our heroine so I will more than likely continue to visit the Sainted King’s Court.

The Heiress

~ Lisa Helm ~ 1 Comment

by Rachel Hawkins

Ok, Rachel Hawkins has again done what she does best…sucks you into a sticky web of murder and secrets, making it impossible to escape until you’ve read the last page. 

The wealthy widow (three times widowed) Ruby McTavish has died, leaving her estate to her son Cam, who wants nothing to do with his mother, her fortune, or his childhood. You see, Cam has made a humble life for himself as a teacher and husband to Jules. He’d much rather have his uncle and cousins deal with the family fortune.

Unfortunately, Cam’s uncle dies, and Jules (who has never met his family and would like to learn more about her husband) encourages Cam to return to the family fold to help with issues surrounding the estate. 

Upon his return, the reader learns of Ruby’s dark past, the circumstances surrounding Cam’s troubled childhood, and the building of a fortune built on blood.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons:

  • It was a suitable palate cleanser after the heavy literary fiction I had been reading.
  • It was a quick read with a fast-paced plot and interesting characters.
  • It had two storylines that worked successfully together.When I got tired of one, I was sent back to Ruby’s time. 

This is a great novel with enough twists to keep you reading until the very end. It’s a perfect title for your summer TBR.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin,s Press for the free copy

The Pole

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by J. M Coetzee


It’s taken me a while to write a review for this novel. How do I write an objective review about a story I so significantly identify? The Pole is a love story but not a love story. It is a story about friendship, but not much of a friendship. In this novel, Coetzee does what Coetzee does best, with razor-sharp precision; he concisely writes what we all have felt and, in this case, what a middle-aged woman feels when she meets someone who tells her: “She gives him peace. She gives him joy”. (pg. 32)

Beatriz is nearing 50 and is a mother and a wife. She is content in life, “an intelligent person but not reflective [however] a portion of her intelligence consists of an awareness that excess reflection can paralyze the will.” (pg 4).
Witold Walczykiezicz is a 70-year-old Polish pianist known for interpreting Chopin’s works. When he arrives in Barcelona to perform, he meets Beatriz, a socialite who seems forced to be a hostess during his visit. Witold immediately falls in love with Beatriz, claiming that she is Beatrice to his Dante.
But Beatriz is anything but attracted to Witold. In fact, she has “emerged from her explorations with no great respect for men and their appetites, no wish to have a wave of male passion splash over her” (pg 27).
But something about Witold compels Beatriz to join this strange musician’s world, but will it be as a friend or a lover?

This novel, with its unique structure that resembles a narrative poem, is a captivating read. I was initially provided a free digital copy from Netgally and the publisher, but I was so enthralled that I ended up purchasing a hard copy. I am certain to revisit it, or at least reread portions of it, in the future.

While the main characters of this novel may be middle-aged and elderly, their experiences and responses are deeply human, making them relatable to readers of all ages. The beauty of the prose and the depth of the sentences serve as expert examples of author craft, inviting readers to delve into the intricacies of the narrative.

2 New Mystery Novels

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The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

I enjoyed Gentill’s novel The Woman in the Library, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. Although I wouldn’t say I liked it as much, I still enjoyed it. I liked The brother-sister dynamic between Theo and Gus, Horse (no spoilers), and plot elements (who doesn’t love conspiracy theories, the crazy lives of authors, and murder?).

I didn’t love the pace (too slow for me) and Theo’s stupid choices. I mean, I know she’s only 22, but COME ON!

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It’s a suitable quick read with a somewhat intriguing mystery. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the copy.

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene

f you love true crime podcasts, unsolved murders, and a protagonist with a ton of baggage (none of it her doing), then you’ll love this novel.

Lindsey Fadley was only 10 years old when her sister Jessica disappeared, and she’s always felt guilty; she WAS the last person to see her. And now, years later, human remains have been found in Doll’s Eye Lake, the same lake where her sister was last seen. Lindsey’s past has literally come back to haunt her in the form of reporters harassing her for information, an old boyfriend that may have ulterior motives and memories that seem nothing but unreliable.

At first, I found this novel VERY predictable. I figured out a guilty party within the first 30 pages. However, there was a twist that made the plot redeemable and, in fact, quite intriguing. I did find Lindesy gullible to the point of annoying; however, the other aspects of Greene’s writing keep me engaged. Overall, it is an engaging mystery. I will be reading more of Greene’s writing.

This novel will be available to purchase in November 2024

Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for the free copy.

Bear

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Julia Phillips

This is a beautifully written novel about expectations, broken dreams, heartache, and everything else associated with sisters. This is my first foray into Julia Phillips’s works, and I am now a true fan of her craft. In this novel, Phillips weaves myth into reality by merely introducing a bear into the lives of two sisters struggling to find their place in the small, claustrophobic world in which they live.
Honestly, it took me a while to get immersed in this story because I couldn’t seem to attach myself to any one character, but the beauty of the setting kept me intrigued enough by the plot that I continued reading.
This novel will make an effective mentor text in English classrooms to discuss myth in a modern setting, themes of sisterhood, identity, guilt, acceptance, fear, and the majesty and violence of nature. The author’s description of the setting is truly noteworthy.
The ending broke me.


Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the free copy.