Tag: #bookclubs

I Medusa

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Ayana Gray

“ He is wealthy and popular…he will not be punished. Meanwhile, the girls here are prey.” (I Medusa).

I Medusa turned out to be an unexpected surprise. The novel unfolds over a year. Medusa, or Meddy, is 17 and preparing with her sisters for a spring feast. Unlike her sisters—Euryale and Stheno, both goddesses—Meddy is mortal. Her parents, gods of the Sea Court but not Olympians, still resent their lesser status. Meddy feels powerless compared to her family but possesses intellect, courage, and a strong sense of justice. She is sensitive to injustices in the court, including discrimination and mistreatment of women and children. These qualities attract Athena, who invites Medusa to be her acolyte in Athens, where, as myth suggests, chaos soon follows.

Ayana Grey does an incredible job in humanising Medusa as a 17-year-old girl. From her infatuation with Posidon and her inability to recognise the fact that he is grooming her for his own sexual conquest (she is constantly making excuses for his behaviour, attempting to convince herself that he sees her as special and that his love for her is different from the “love” he has for his wife, Amphitrite, or his mistresses). In fact, we, the readers, can’t help but yell at her in her naivety… However, her way of thinking seems very age-appropriate.

Medusa is characterized as a young woman we can’t help but love, even though her choices frustrate us. Gray reminds us of her age and that her choices stem from her parents’ poor upbringing—for example, she has no idea what sex is and is confused by her body’s response to seeing Poseidon with a sea nymph during her spring feast. She is often ruled by her heart rather than her mind. Her pursuit of justice turns violent, first with her fists, then with the power her curse gives her.

*spoiler warning*

I was so brokenhearted at the end, even though it was no surprise. Meddy goes to sleep with hope and optimism in her heart. Dreaming of her future where she can use her curse in a way to benefit others, just to meet her demise before the sun rises. We get to know Meddy intimately; she is characterised as an empathetic, sweet young woman, even after she is cursed. She is a victim of those in power, not a monstrous villain as most myths portray her.

Ayana Grey uses her narrative to discuss the nature of rape culture and the issue of men in power getting away with exploiting young women … two issues that we are facing today. It would make an amazing book club pick or novel for study, as it offers a plethora of points of discussion.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the copy

Hamnet

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by Maggie O’Farrell

I love Shakespeare and loved teaching his works. When I taught Hamlet, I also explored Shakespeare’s life and the play’s historical background with my students.

Because of this, my review is personal and shaped by my love for Shakespeare and his famous play.

The novel begins as we meet Hamnet, the son of William and Agnes. He is desperately looking for an adult to help his twin sister, Judith, who has suddenly become very ill. We see the story through Hamnet’s eyes—his worry for Judith, his confusion when he can’t find help, and the pain he feels from his grandfather’s abuse.

I loved this book. The main character is Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes. (Shakespeare’s real wife was named Anne, but that detail doesn’t matter here.) Agnes has become one of my favorite female characters in literature. We first meet her as a young girl, witnessing her mother’s traumatic death during childbirth. Her mother was gentle, mystical, and almost otherworldly. Later, we learn about Agnes’s abuse by her stepmother, who always knew that Agnes’s mother was her husband’s true love. Like her mother, Agnes is a healer, a bee whisperer, and sensitive to the spirit world. Because of this, both her stepmother and the townspeople see her as odd and unmarriageable.

But when a young man arrives to tutor her brothers and takes a particular interest in her, she cannot help but recognize that beneath him, his hidden mind and a soul that is unlike any she’s known.

Spoiler alert!

We find out that poor little Judith has the plague, and Agnes uses every bit of learning she has gleaned over the years to cure her child. In the meantime, William, who is off with his players entertaining audiences with his plays, is sent. The attention is focused on Judith; all the while, we should be concerned about young Hamnet. Young Hamlet is the sweetest son/brother, selfless, smart, and incredibly brave. We, the readers, are indeed heartbroken over his death. 

The novel then explores the grief of Agnes and William. Agnes’s deep heartbreak stands out, especially since we have followed her life so closely throughout the story.

I am bewitched by O’Farrell’s writing. Its lyrical style is enchanting and impactful. She brilliantly varies timelines and various character points of view to keep the reader mesmerized with the story and empathetic towards her characters. 

I would definitely use this novel as a mentor text and as a literary study for my students.

Season of Fear

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by Amy Cooper

Season of Fear was the perfect book to start my new year. An easy, fast-paced read that was hugely entertaining and at times poignant in theme. 

Ilse lives with her mother and sister in Heulensee, a small village surrounded by the forest Hexenwald, a forest filled with bloodthirsty beasts like the Nachzehrer, a vampiric creature, and the enormous serpents Lindurum. In order to stave off the beasts of Hexenwald, the women, just the woman, have to feed the “Saint of Fear” their terror. The more authentic and terrifying their screams, the more satiated the Saint will be. But not before it devours a woman or two.

Heulensee is a village that follows several religious practices that are detrimental to women. They are the ones who have to feed the Saint. They are the ones who must undergo a rite at 18, during which they must visit the Saint’s lair and survive the night to placate not only the monster but also the preacher. 

Unfortunately,  Ilse has a problem. She does not feel fear. She feels sadness, anger, and a plethora of other emotions, but she does not feel fear, a fact that angers the Saint, who then threatens her that if she does not express adequate fear, it will devour her sister Dorthea. So Ilse is then banished to Hexenwald in order to find a way to defeat the Saint and save her sister. On her journey, Ilse learns about herself, the origins of the Saint, and a way to use her absence of fear to protect herself and those she loves. 

I really enjoyed this novel; it reads like a traditional fairy tale, complete with folk-eating beasts and lessons to be learned. 

Thank you to Little Brown and Co. and Netgalley for the copy.

Wild Reverence

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by Rebecca Ross

Wild Reverence is a slow-burning Romantacy story. For most of the book, we are schooled in a world of Gods, Goddesses, and Mortals. We have the Immortals of the Under Realm and the Immortals of the Skyward Realm, and poor Matilda’s parentage includes both… which leaves a young girl struggling with a sense of identity and belonging. When tragedy occurs in her Under Realm home, she is forced to leave and find solace in Skyward, but will she be accepted? 

In the meantime, Matilda has met the boy of her dreams, Vincent, the only problem is she can only meet him in his dreams, oh, and he’s a mortal. For a chunk of this novel, Matilda’s and Vincent’s story is secondary; they “grow up,” each finding their place in the world (or, in Matilda’s case, her worlds), and each coming face to face with their newfound powers and the discovery of their weaknesses. Each faces betrayals and moments of weakness, but in these moments, each learns who they truly are and what potential they have to save the ones they love, unless, of course, it is contrary to what the fates allow.

So I’m not a huge fan of Romantacy, and I’ve never read anything by Rebecca Ross. I picked up Divine Rivals once and carried it around the bookstore, but didn’t end up buying it, and I am beginning to rue that day. Not that you need to read the Divine Rival books to fully enjoy Wild Reverence. I really admire Ross’s writing. It is really quite beautiful. Her prose is vivid, and the plot unravels like a movie in my imagination. 

A perfect Christmas read AND a perfect gift for those in your life who are fans of Romantacy. 

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

The Forest of Missing Girls

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by Nichelle Giraldes

This book is a creepy hybrid where young women go missing and the community comes together to track down their kidnapper, or worse yet a serial killer and a supernatural science fiction novel (I’d reference a novel in particular but then I would be hugely spoiling the plot). 

The novel starts with Lia Gregg returning home to her mother, Elizabeth, and her sister, Evie, to their little house in the woods. Her father is there too, but he seems disengaged from his family and, well, is basically disengaged from the entire plot, to be honest. Lia has experienced a breakup with her boyfriend, and she’s feeling a little lost. Soon after her arrival, Evie and her friend Maddie are hanging out in the backyard when Maddie disappears. Maddie’s disappearance immediately causes concern because, for years now, young girls have been mysteriously disappearing from the area. 

Soon, we, the readers, come across a chapter written from a different point of view. We are suddenly experiencing an alternative plot from the viewpoint of a very confused girl. Could she be Maddie? Could she be another one of the numerous girls who have gone missing? All we know is that she is absolutely clueless about who and where she is. All she knows is that there is this woman named “Mother” who is caring for her.

I was really entertained by this novel. It is a puzzle, and as soon as I started putting together the pieces, when all of a sudden a picture started forming, I couldn’t wait to see what the picture looked like in its entirety. 

I would have a problem with the science-fiction/supernatural element of this novel, but Giraldes skillfully weaves it into her storyline.

A great book to add to your Christmas reading list!!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the copy.

The Devil in Oxford

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Jess Armstrong

The Devil in Oxford is the third novel in the Ruby Vaughn Mystery series. Full disclosure, I have not read the first two. The novel can be read as a stand alone, however as I read, I couldn’t help but feel as though I would have enjoyed it more if I knew some of the backstory that was referenced such as how did she and her love interest Ruen meet, her history with the solicitor, how did she come about living with Mr. Owen (my favourite character by the way.
Ruby Vaughn is a “disgraced heiress” who has a penchant for attracting both the supernatural and mystery. Armstrong, through her characterization of Ruby, both indirectly and directly, successfully portrays her as a strong-willed, intelligent, and precocious woman who wonderfully does not “know her place”. Ruby lives with an eccentric, charming old man, their housekeeper, Mrs Penrose, and, of course, a cat. Mr Owen owns a rare book shop where he and Ruby work… a rare book shop, my dream location (and my dream job, if I’m being honest), so this fact may have contributed to my affection for the book.
The novel starts with Ruby playing tennis with her good friend Leona, during which she notices Leona acting peculiar. When called out, Leona skirts the issue. Ruby then returns home to find that Mr Owen has procured tickets to an intriguing exhibition of “curious” oddities and artefacts. Where, of course, a bloody crime ensues, Ruby’s love interest arrives, and Lenore may or may not be a suspect. Poor Ruby has a lot to navigate in this novel: her personal life, solving a crime, and discovering the true character of the people most important to her… thank goodness she has her cat, Fialla, as support.

I really liked this novel. I liked Ruby; she was spunky, stubborn, and confident when it came to solving mysteries, but not so confident in her personal life… like most of us. I loved Mr Owen and his grandfatherly nature. I especially loved the setting; as soon as you mention a rare book store in an academic setting, I’m hooked. I did, however, miss not being “present” to witness the spark that set fire to the slow burn that is the central romance.  So I’m definitely going to seek out and read the first two. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the Copy

Aurora’s Journey

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By Kayla Williams

Aurora’s Journey is a wonderful children’s book that beautifully presents the themes of coming of age, family, courage, and the importance of cultural wisdom. 

Aurora is an Inuk child whose family leaves her to care for her grandmother while they go on a hunting trip. After nights of snowstorms and long after her family was due to return, Aurora bravely decides to go and find them.

On her journey, Aurora relies on the lessons of her father and the songs of her grandmother to help overcome her fear and ultimately survive her hostile environment. Aurora encounters deep cold, bears, hunger, and intense snowstorms on her quest. When Aurora tells her father of her adventure, he proudly tells her, “You trusted the land. That is the greatest strength of all”. 

This book, with its powerful themes and engaging narrative, is a perfect fit for any classroom. It beautifully illustrates resilience through respect for the land and the strength of cultural wisdom, making it an incredible addition to any curriculum.

Thank you to Kegedonce Press and Netgalley for the copy.

The Mad Wife

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by Megan Church

This novel drew me in and had my attention until I finished reading the final page. Written in first person, we are immersed in the life of Lulu, a housewife living in the 1950s. Lulu was once an aspiring photojournalist, filled with dreams and ambitions of her own. But upon meeting the love of her life,  she puts aside these ambitions for dreams of a new kind. To become a wife to Henry and a mother to
Lulu’s attempt to be the perfect housewife is manifested in her obsession with making the perfect moulded jelly salad. In fact, she becomes known as the neighbourhood queen of moulded food. 
When I first began reading this novel, I inferred that Lulu may be suffering from postpartum depression compounded by the fact that she is again pregnant. Her emotional fragility, compounded by the resurfacing memory and guilt associated with the death of her father and the needs of her disabled brother, Lulu does not seem to be managing.
When a new family moves into the neighbourhood, Lulu becomes obsessed with knowing who they are, especially the wife, Bitsy. Lulu believes Bitsy’s emotionless behaviour is a result of being lobotomised, a practice often conducted in the 50’s to treat “housewife fatigue” and “female hysteria”. 
Lulu’s behaviour soon becomes so erratic that her husband feels like there is no other alternative but to place her in an asylum where she is continuously medicated and prescribed electroshock therapy. Is Lulu truly mad? She is definitely an unreliable narrator, but if you look closely at her words, you can see that they often hold an element of truth. We also learn of a particularly truamatizing event in Lulu’s life that most likely contributed to her break. 
Meagan Church artfully crafts this novel to follow Lulu’s descent into melancholy and paranoia. We experience her fatigue, the weight of unrealistic expectations, her guilt, heartbreak and ultimately her ‘madness’. The novel also serves as a powerful critique of society’s dismissiveness towards female health even today. ‘All you need to do is lose weight. ‘It’s hormonal. Here are some tranquillisers. Let’s shock the sadness and melancholy out of you. ‘Or maybe we should sever the neural tracts in your brain, that should make you docile and happy.’ It’s a stark reminder of the struggles women have faced and continue to face in the realm of mental health.
I was quite captivated by this novel. It is rich with symbolism, character development and theme. And it definitely is a wonderful example of an unreliable narrator.
Thank you to Source books and Netgalley for the copy.

The Witch’s Orchard

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by Archer Sullivan

The Witch’s Orchard is a propulsive crime novel, with glimmers of Appalachian superstition and “witchyness”. Annie Gore, a private investigator, is approached one day by Max, the brother of a missing girl. Years ago, when Max was just a young boy, three little girls went missing, one of them his sister, and law enforcement has been unsuccessful in finding the kidnapper. Creepily enough, an Applehead doll was left in each of the young girls’ stead. Jessica, Oliva, and Molly and only Olivia was returned. Annie Gore’s investigation leads her to learning more about the people and the folklore of the area. It also leads her to make new friends, so when tragedy strikes again (and again), it hits closer to home when Annie knows the next victim. 

This novel was a perfect summer read for me (I read it in a day!). It immediately captured my interest and held it with its suspenseful plot. The unpredictability of the resolution kept me engaged, making it a perfect choice for anyone who loves a good crime novel!

I will be looking out for more of Archer Sullivan’s books in the future!

riThank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy.

This Vicious Hunger

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by Francesca May

Francesca May

This Vicious Hunger, a Victorian Gothic novel, weaves a unique narrative that resonates with the themes of Grim’s Fairy Tales and Dracula.
Thora Grieve is the daughter of an academic, a man who happens to also be an undertaker. Although Thora is a brilliant young woman herself, she is obliged to marry soon after her father’s death. Fortunately, her husband dies mere months after the wedding, and her mother-in-law informs her that she had kept a secret: an invitation to go to the city and study under the tutelage of an eccentric, renowned botanist who was experimenting with the power and potency of plants.
As a woman, Thora is not allowed to live on campus, so her mentor finds a room for her at the top of an old building with a window that overlooks a beautiful garden. Soon, Thora observes a beautiful woman visiting the garden, tending to the various flowers and trees. Thora is unable to enter the garden because the gate is locked. So she introduces herself to the mysterious woman whose name is Olea. Olea refuses entry to Thora because she claims the plants she tends are extremely toxic and that she herself has developed a tolerance to their poison.
Thor begins to feel an unsettling attraction to Olea and soon craves her company. 
Also, Thora realised that her mentor is importing dangerous plants from exotic countries with nefarious intent.
As the story unfolds, Thora finds herself caught in a web of unfamiliar desires and ambitions. She begins to lose not only control but also seems a victim of her own impulses and desires. The cost of this loss is high-it could mean the sacrifice of scientific discovery, the loss of a one true love, or even the loss of her own self.
Despite the occasional pacing issues, I found This Vicious Hunger to be a compelling read. While some parts felt drawn out, the novel’s narrative kept me engaged throughout.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the copy.

The Red Letter

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By Daniel G. Miller

Yay! We are back with Hazel Cho! The brilliant, chaotic private investigator we met in Miller’s “The Orphanage by the Lake”. I love Hazel. I love reading the story from her point of view, where we see her deductive reasoning, logic, and at times paranoid thinking work their way through the intricacies of a case. In the Red Letter, Hazel is asked by her old acquaintance and “friend” attorney Shavali (who, to make things weird, just happens to be the ex of Hazel’s boyfriend Jack to help defend a young man whom she believes is wrongfully accused in the horrific death of a priest.
Hazel refuses the case at first, but the security footage of the violent, gruesome death of Fr. Kenneally triggers her, and she can’t help but conjure images of the trauma she experienced in her first case. However, under pressure from Shavali and Kenny, she agrees, and soon regrets the decision.
Soon, there is another murder, with the victim dying the same way. Another… so obviously, the suspect cannot be the young man sitting in prison. But who could it be?
As the story progresses, the murders become closer and more personal, with Hazel herself fearing for her life and the lives of those she loves.
I liked this book! It is a quick read; however, the plot seemed rushed, allowing for no substantial character development. For example, the death of a key character didn’t really affect me all that much because we didn’t get a chance to get to know them. And I didn’t feel sorrow for the heartache experienced by those suffering the loss. Additionally, at times, it seemed there were numerous opportunities for the author to build suspense, but the action was rushed through too quickly.
I like Miller’s writing. I like Hazel. I will be reading more of Hazel Cho’s adventures.

Spectacular Things

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by Beck Dorey-Stein

I always love a story about the resiliency of sisters, probably because I have sisters myself.
Spectacular Things is a novel about two sisters, Mia and Cricket, who have to choose (or not) to give up something they love, something that defines them, something they need to survive to save the one they love. 
The novel begins with Liz, the perfect daughter of a perfect wealthy couple. Liz is mostly overlooked as a child, that is, until she starts to shine as a soccer player, so much so that her parents have Olympic hopes for their daughter. That is, until she unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Having no support from her parents, Liz decides to keep her baby, and the only way to do so is to leave home. So she does, and actually manages to make a living for herself and her daughter, Mia. Liz has high hopes for Mia, hoping that Mia will become the soccer superstar Liz had the potential to be. Soon, Liz and Mia’s family grows with the addition of a sister, Cricket, who proves to be born and built for soccer stardom. So Liz and Mia organise their life to support Cricket’s success. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes, and Mia is forced to give up her dream of earning a university degree to care for her sister. As their lives progress, each sister is faced with life-altering decisions that force them to choose between their own dreams and the happiness of the other. The author effectively portrays how an individual can become conflicted when faced with such a heart-wrenching dilemma.
Dorey-Stein has such a wonderful writing style, it is so easy to slip immediately into the story and have the reader emotionally connect with the characters almost as if we are part of the family ourselves, we become emotionally invested to the point where at times we become frustrated with character choice much like we become frustrated with the choices of our won family members.
If you are a soccer player, love soccer, and know the intricacies of the game, its politics, training, and history. You will adore this novel. A perfect read to get you revved up for the FIFA Cup!
Spectacular Things is a heart-warming (and at times heart-wrenching) novel about family, choice, and identity. We contemplate what makes up our own personal identity, to what extent our family contribute, the choices we make, the opportunities we miss, and the dreams we pursue. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the Copy.

Party of Liars

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by Kelsey Cox

If you want a REALLY good “whodunit”, Party of Liars is a perfect fit. Almost like a game of Clue, we have a collection of characters all gathered under the same roof to celebrate Sophie’s 16th birthday. Sophie is the daughter of Ethan, a handsome and charismatic psychiatrist, and stepdaughter to Dani, a former social influencer who is now Ethan’s wife and mother to their baby daughter, Charlotte. All live in the notorious mansion on the hill, a place that stood empty for years because of its dark past but now fully renovated (including the removal of an entire facade to be replaced by glass to replicate a real-life dollhouse.

Poor Dani is having a difficult time, with postpartum depression mixed with a bit of loneliness, she is being to see things, things like the form of a woman in white who hides behind curtains and skulks in the bushes, and most disturbing she is beginning to hear things….like the cry of a baby, a baby that isn’t hers.

Dani isn’t the only one with “issues”. We also meet an assortment of other characters who all seem to be dealing with unresolved anger and bitterness, or a delusional sense of justice. 

The evening of the birthday party, a death occurs. Someone plummets from a balcony to the stone steps below. Who is this person? Was it an accidental death? Was it a murder?

Cox writes her novel in a series of chapters, each written from the point of view of a different character. Dani, Ethan, the superstitious nanny Orlaith, Ethan’s ex-wife Kim, Mikayla, a friend of Sophie’s, could all be the victim or the suspect. 

I enjoyed this novel immensely. I especially enjoyed the distinct voice each character brings to their specific chapter. Cox also writes in such a way that it took me a while to determine my suspect (and I’m pretty good at predicting within the first third of a novel…but not this one!!!). Most of the novel takes place over the day, from the pre-party to the party and ultimately the post-party, with flashbacks embedded to build character and motive.

Kelsey Cox is a skilful mystery writer. Her character building, plot construction, and proficiency in creating atmosphere and suspense make this a perfect summer read and one I would recommend to my High School students.