C.B. Calsing's Blog, page 5

A Review of Brandie June's "Spun Gold" (audiobook)

Brandie June has given us a retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin” for fans of Sarah J. Maas in her book, “Gold Spun.” Nor and her three brothers are orphans, doing their best to get by in a kingdom ravaged by war. After meeting a faerie in the woods, she cooks up a scheme to sell magic straw. The prince of the kingdom catches her, and hoping to expose her as a fraud, promises to marry her if she can spin all the straw into gold in one night. Through the aid of the faerie, she accomplishes this feat and becomes the fiancee of the king-to-be. All is not happily ever after, however; as Nor falls for her prince, other forces are at work to bring down the kingdom. 

Although there is obvious influence from the fairy tale, this retelling is original enough that you are still left wondering how it will all come together in the end. I enjoyed the inclusive cast and the growth many of them showed. Brandie June has done a good job ensuring her supporting characters move along with the protagonist.  

The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, did a great job giving voice to Nor’s first-person narrative. I found her earnest and believable. 

I would definitely recommend June’s “Gold Spun” to fans of fantasy and fairy-tale retellings. It’s appropriate for upper elementary advanced readers right up through adult. I love the strong heroine who, even though she is not averse to running the odd scam, is fiercely loyal to her family and will do what it takes to keep them safe. I look forward to the next installment in this series. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review. 

A Review of Lauren Blackwood's "Within these Wicked Walls" (audiobook)

Lauren Blackwood’s “Within these Wicked Walls” is a wonderful dark,  horror romance. I love anything inspired by “Jane Eyre,” and this did not disappoint. Andromeda works as an unlicensed debtera, a sort of exorcist, and she is called into the desert to cleanse a haunted castle. She falls in love with the owner, Magnus Rochester, who is the cursed individual. Together with the help of Andi’s mentor and an unlikely, undead ally, they work to overcome the curse before it is too late. 

I really enjoyed this novel. The touches on racial and socioeconomic politics made for interesting undertones. The manifestations, or hauntings, were well thought-out and plenty creepy when they needed to be, but I also liked the touches where they were light-hearted and offered some respite from the grief and labors the characters must endure. There are some complicated relationships, but because of them, the story felt more realistic despite its fantastical elements. 

The narrator, Nneka Okoye, did an excellent job with Andi’s first-person perspective. I could have listened to her for much longer. 

I loved this book and would like to revisit this world that Blackwood has created in “Within these Wicked Walls.” I downloaded it using the Libby app, and you should too!

Review of Baird's "In the Grimdark Strands of the Spinneret"

“In the Grimdark Strands of the Spinneret” by Keith Anthony Baird is marketed as a “fairy tale for elders.” The main thrust of the plot revolves around a deposed princess who spends a lifetime plotting her revenge, only to, in turn, be betrayed by the next in line to her rule. There is magic and war and intrigue in the intervening years. 

I generally like fairy-tale retellings or new incarnations based on the tropes of the past. This one has many of the appealing aspects of a dark fantasy. The basic plot points are good and could lend themselves to a very lush, long fantasy novel. Some of the language is quite poetic, but in other spots it feels overwrought. What is really missing here, however, is the deeper perspective that most reinventions utilize and that most modern readers desire. Because of the sparing use of dialogue and deep scene, the narration flows more like summary. I kept expecting what felt like the background retelling to stop and the real scene to begin, but it never happened. As a result, right up until the end, I was never into the text because it felt like narration that could be skimmed. In addition, one graphic scene was repeated four times with very little change. While I appreciate repetition for effect, in this case because of the length of the scene, it didn’t really work for me. 

I really wanted to like Baird’s “In the Grimdark Strands of the Spinneret,” but it just wasn’t to my taste. Other readers have raved about this dark fantasy. Check those reviews if you are still interested after reading mine. Maybe they will speak to you. I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for my review. 

A Review of Katherine Marsh's "The Door by the Staircase" (audiobook)

So here is my second installment of magical orphan stories for fall: “The Door by the Staircase” by Katherine Marsh. It has a lot in common with the last one I wrote about, “Misfit’s Magic.”  

Mary is twelve years old and has recently been sent from the orphanage for younger children to the one for older girls, where the caretaker immediately dislikes her. She is afraid of never getting adopted and aging out, ending up in a workhouse or worse. Mary decides to run away but is caught. The very next day, however, the mysterious Madame Z adopts Mary and whisks her off to a strange town full of magicians and soothsayers. In this new world, not all is as it seems. Are the illusionists using actual magic? Soon Mary learns Madame Z is not who she claims to be, and Mary must decide if this is her forever home or if she needs to run to save her life. 

This was a really fun, quick listen. It has a very cottagecore feel to it and has a cozy happy ending for all. It was exactly what I wanted for an autumn read: mushroom hunts, stews, falling leaves, cozy fires...and magic! I think this would be a lovely book for mothers and daughters to read together. Mary is a strong female lead who is willing to make sacrifices for those she loves, and Madame Z shows realistic growth throughout the story. The supporting cast of characters as well as the touches of Russian folklore make it even more interesting. 

The narrator, Laural Merlington, did a splendid job with the voices. Madame Z was appropriately exotic, and Mary was earnest and young. I would definitely look for other children’s chapter books narrated by her. 

I wish there were another book in this series, so I could have a second peek into the life of Mary and Madame Z. I checked this book out using the Libby app, and you should too! 

A Review of V. Castro's "The Haunting of Alejandra"

I was excited to read “The Haunting of Alejandra” by V. Castro when I found it on NetGalley, because I am really looking forward to getting my hands on her Aliens-franchise story, “Vasquez.” Of course, “The Haunting” is an entirely different story that has its own appeal. 

The plot follows Alejandra. A stay-at-home mother of three, she battles with depression and her own expectations of what motherhood is supposed to be. Alejandra was adopted by a white family as a baby, and as such doesn’t have a lot of connection to her Hispanic roots. Is her depression and dissatisfaction a mental health issue, or is it something more sinister, dark, and much, much older? To answer these questions, she enlists the help of a counselor who is also a curandera, and Alejandra reconnects with her birth mother. Together the women work to unravel an ancient curse on the bloodline. 

I love how the author interwove the perspectives of the women in the modern world with those of their ancestors. This technique gave a rich narrative with lots of interest for the reader. The specter is well formed and graphically depicted, which I appreciate in ghost stories. I want to be able to picture what the author sees, and she gives plenty of details to make that possible. This is also a very women-heavy book, with the husband, though the cause of some strife, largely out of the picture in Alejandra’s battle. There is little sympathy for him in the story, and Alejandra does little to try to explain or involve him. The author, too, does nothing to redeem him. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit lengthy and contrived, particularly during the counseling scenes. And the counseling scenes often seem to take precedent over the horror elements of the novel. Some trigger warnings should probably be added to this book, attempted suicide and ideations at the top of the list. 

At the end, this felt like women’s fiction with a touch of horror rather than straight horror. It was not necessarily what I expected, but I enjoyed the read. I’ll definitely look for other works by V. Castro. 

A Review of Fred Gracely's "Misfit's Magic" (Audiobook)

I’m in a mood right now to read autumn-set horror and magical stories for kids. I just moved to a new town with actual fall-like weather. There’s even snow on the hills around the house right now! So I absolutely want to feel in the spirit of the season.  

I decided to start with Fred Gracely’s “Misfit’s Magic,” narrated by Colin Wats. The story has all the best character tropes: an orphan, a grumpy foster dad and horrible foster siblings, a mysterious stranger, and a talking cat, to name a few. Our protagonist, Goff, has one dream: to write an essay good enough to get into fancy boarding school and away from his miserable existence. When a spell (for research, of course) goes awry, he finds himself a reluctant wizard who must try to stop an evil aristocrat from consuming all the children’s souls in town. 

This was a fun listen. The narrator did a great job with the different voices, particularly the evil wizard. Goff is likable and brave, and his friends add a touch of humor to the story. The plot has time travel, disappearing adults, and lots of mystery. The ending is happy and quite satisfying. 

I’m sure upper elementary kids would thoroughly enjoy this, and the crisp fall setting makes for a perfectly seasonal read. Fans of Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket would really dig this. I really look forward to where Fred Gracely is going to take his readers next. I received this audiobook from NetGalley.

A review of Marcy McCreary's "The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon" (audiobook)

Marcy McCreary’s “The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon” is a fun detective story with a strong female lead. Detective Susan Ford, while embroiled in a racially sensitive shooting investigation, is dragged into one of her father’s cold cases. Together they work to figure out what happened to the titular coffee shop waitress who disappeared forty years earlier. Her boyfriend, another cop, is also along for the ride. The case is made all the more difficult because of the family that is the focus of the investigation: the Roths, former Catskills hotel royalty with a complicated dynamic. 

There was a lot to enjoy about this book. The shifting perspectives between Susan and Trudy gave color to the narration. The procedural/ clue collecting part of the book unraveled at a good pace, and the conflict within the Roth family and Mary’s relationship to it offered good tension. My one issue with the story (entirely personal) was I found it hard to sympathize with a detective who had recently shot an evidently unarmed black man. The author uses this touchstone to current events to manipulate the reader, and I’m not sure the subplot was entirely necessary. There could have been something less charged to offer the additional tension, I think, which would not have turned off certain readers. 

The narrator, Rachel Fulginiti, gave realistic interpretations of both Susan’s voice and the third person perspective of Trudy. 

I enjoyed “The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon” by Marcy McCreary and look forward to future installments in the series. 

A Review of Mark Wheaton's "Wraith" (audiobook)

In Mark Wheaton’s Wraith, Cecily is called away from collecting plant specimens in the Carolina wetlands when her great-grandmother dies in France. Cecily’s life is turned upside down when she learns of a family curse, ancestral secrets, and an inheritance that could change everything. Haunted by the titular character at every turn, Cecily must try to save herself and her friends while uncovering the mystery of her family’s disastrous past.

This was a great, tight horror and suspense novel. I was just as eager as Cecily to put together all the pieces of the puzzle her great-grandmother left behind. The supporting characters are diverse, and I was invested in their stories as well. What I really liked about this tale was the author managed to sprinkle in some moments of joy and beauty, which relieved the tension of the plot line. So often horror novels are all one note, and that can be overwhelming for the reader.

The narrator did a nice job with the story. Annalee Scott captured Cecily’s perspective skillfully, but also managed to give color and life to the other characters as well.

I would definitely recommend the audiobook version of Mark Wheaton’s Wraith. It is entertaining and a quick listen. Readers will not be disappointed. I received a copy from NetGalley for my review. 

A Review of Sunyi Dean's "The Book Eaters" (Audiobook)

Sunyi Dean introduces us to a new mythology in her novel, “The Book Eaters. 

Devon is a book eater. Her sustenance comes from the actual mastication of the written word. Where these creatures came from is a mystery, but nevertheless a few families of them are scattered across the UK. Occasionally a book eater offspring is born a mind eater: a creature who can suck out a person’s memory and knowledge, leaving the body an empty husk. 

When Devon gives birth to a mind eater, the result of a family-arranged coupling, she must decide what she values more: the life she was raised in or the life of her son. What is the cost of love? 

The world-building and mythos that Dean has created in this novel are noteworthy. I wanted to explore more of it. There is hint of a sequel, which I hope we see. Themes of self-discovery and survival permeate the novel, and the combination of flashbacks and present-day narration ensures that the reader gets all the details they need when they need them. 

The narrator of the audiobook, Katie Erich, did an excellent job evoking a voice that Devon, our main character, would have. Often I thought the narration was in first-person because I identified the narrator so closely with Devon. 

“The Book Eaters” by Sunyi Dean is dark—there is a lot of movement at night; bad things happen—but we are also treated to a good dose of hope and redemption in the end. I highly recommend this novel, and I look forward to more work from this author. 

A Review of Ainslie Hogarth's "Motherthing"

Ainslie Hogarth’s Motherthing is, well, something. Told alternately from sort of stream-of-conscious first person and prose set as stage directions and dialogue, the highly odd and unreliable narrator, Abby, relates her experience with the death of her mother-in-law and the resulting fall-out in her relationship with her husband.

Right from the beginning, you know that Abby is a little unhinged. She finds the idea of filling a hot tub with diarrhea amusing, and an old cookbook is her bible. We learn later she had an abusive and neglectful mother, and she wanted to connect with her husband Ralph’s mother, but that woman too was inaccessible. Abby finds solace in a client at her long-term care home, but that relationship is a little backward. Abby calls Mrs. Bondy her baby. And there is nothing Abby wants more than a baby with her perfect husband. However, Ralph is pulled into a deep depression by the suicide of his mother and her (maybe?) consequent haunting of the couple. A psychic tells Abby what she must do to heal Ralph, but the act is over the top. Will Abby be able to save her husband before he falls to the same demons as his mother?

Squeamish. I think that is the best word to describe how I felt reading the majority of this story. The details about filth, bodily functions, cooking... They all leant to a general gut disagreement with the story. The author deserves accolades for creating something visceral in that sense. Abby, too, is fascinating, as I spent most of the book just judging how accurate my perception of her was going to be by the end. How crazy is she, really? To what level will she rise? How much of this is delusion or fantasy and how much is real? Hogarth has done something interesting with Motherthing. It’s definitely worth a read.

I received a copy through NetGalley for my review.