Elizabeth Fitzgerald's Blog: Earl Grey Editing, page 4

Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore

2021 is apparently my year for New Zealand authors. Queen of Swords Press has happily enabled me by releasing Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore this month.

This solarpunk novel shows a world in which humanity managed to halt its headlong rush into ecological oblivion. A greener, more sustainable path is enforced in part by the Order of the Vengeful Wild, a group of masked assassins who execute (or sometimes just discipline) those reported as breaking the new ways. When the most deadly of the Order comes after Orfeus, she must survive long enough to figure out who has falsely accused her and why.

Orfeus is a classic disaster bisexual with a side order of D&D bard. She’s a charismatic music star, good at making friends. However, she sometimes struggles to keep those friends, since her impulsive nature leads her to make thoughtless decisions that often have a negative impact on those around her. She’s cocky and makes mistakes. But despite her flaws, she has a good heart and a great deal of courage, always fighting for what she believes is right.

She’s helped in this by her magic. Orfeus is Blooded, meaning she can heal quickly, boost her energy when she’s tired and even pull lightning out of thin air. There is a scientific explanation given, but a lot rides on the old quote that sufficiently advanced science will look like magic. And it’s plausible in this setting, where Orfeus barters herbs for what she needs (or simply offers a song), and where architectural beauty is just as important as function.

Community is also an important part of the setting. Almost everywhere, there’s a sense of people watching out for each other — even in places where I wasn’t expecting it. As a travelling performer, Orfeus seems a bit outside of this which shows up in the way she’s slow to grasp the implications of her actions on those around her. But she’s not entirely without a sense of community: she still checks up on her neighbour and tries to limit the collateral damage to her hometown when the Order comes for her.

Queer community in particular is central to the story. Orfeus herself is trans. Wolf, the warrior who’s hunting her is genderfluid. There are badasses of all genders among the Order of the Vengeful Wild and a broad range of pronouns are used throughout the book. It’s a delightful disruption to the unrealistic Lone Gay trope.

This focus on community may make the story sound like a cosy one. And to some degree it is. But this is also a story about making difficult decisions — to do the things no one else wants to do, or do the necessary thing even if you don’t want to. It’s a story with sharp edges, showing that no utopia is perfect and that any system is flawed. It went some unexpected places, with the ending in particular catching me by surprise (and most of the characters, as well). However, in retrospect, it seemed suitably foreshadowed and was a satisfying ending, if not the one I wanted.

All in all, Foxhunt wasn’t the cosy read I expected, but remained a thoughtful and nuanced story in a vibrant world that I enjoyed nevertheless.

Published: August 2021 by Queen of Swords Press
Format reviewed: E-book (epub), 359 pages
Genres: Science fiction, solarpunk
Source: Publisher
Available: Publisher (print and electronic) ~ Amazon (AU, CA, UK, US) ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Booktopia ~ Dymocks ~ Indiebound ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The post Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Succulents and Spells by Andi C. Buchanan

As I have mentioned previously, there has been some delightful fantasy romance coming out of New Zealand recently. One group of authors have banded together to produce Witchy Fiction, a range of light romance novellas about witches set in New Zealand. Of the titles I’ve read so far, my favourite has been Succulents and Spells by Andi. C. Buchanan.

The book is told from the perspective of Laurel, a witch from a large family of witches. She’s not really sure what she’s doing with her life, having not found her magic specialisation and on the verge of giving up on her Masters degree in linguistics. On one of her rare days off from waitressing, she’s visited by Marigold, who asks to take a sample from the monster living under Laurel’s sharehouse.

Marigold is autistic, a PhD candidate in biological science who in her spare time is researching monster genetics. Like Laurel, she is also from a long line of witches, but doesn’t have magic herself, beyond an ability to talk to monsters. What she does have is an abundance of enthusiasm and warmth.

The Witchy Fiction range seem intended as cosy romance, and Succulents and Spells has that in spades. Both of the main characters are charming, friendly people. Laurel is close with much of her large family, who have an online chat to keep in touch and discuss magic problems. She treats her housemates as found family, making sure they sit and have dinner together whenever possible. And she’s constantly helping strangers out with small spells. Being from Laurel’s perspective, we see fewer of Marigold’s connections, though she speaks of her absent family with affection.

There was a bit of class difference between Laurel and Marigold, but although present it was never an issue between them. Conflict is minimal and mostly the result of misunderstandings; tension is brought in by mysteries needing research. Given the current state of the world, this is a welcome approach and was a delight to read. I also appreciated the way the story normalises including one’s pronouns when introducing oneself.

The story is set in Wellington. Having never visited, I’m not in a position to say how well it invoked the feeling of the place. However, I can say that it never felt overwhelming or like I was expected to know a place I’d never been. In fact, the writing style as a whole was excellent, with enough detail to be evocative but without bogging things down. The dialogue felt very natural.

On the whole, I found Succulents and Spells to be light but thoughtful, an uplifting read for difficult times (or any time, really). It’s the first in a series and concludes with a happily-for now, so I’m looking forward to seeing more from these characters.

Published: September 2020 by Contemporary Witchy Fiction
Format reviewed: E-book (epub), 102 pages
Series: Windflower #1
Genres: Fantasy, romance
Source: Kobo
Available: Amazon (AU, CA, UK, US) ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Booktopia ~ Kobo

The post Succulents and Spells by Andi C. Buchanan first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Mt TBR Report: July 2021

The more I read, the more I want to read. Which is to say that Mt TBR keeps slowly creeping upward.

It was an interesting mix of stuff this month. There’s fanfic alongside some heavier philosophy and memoir. A couple of Lodestar nominees. And I seem to be on a bit of an audio binge.

Mt TBR Status

Mt TBR @ 1 January 2021: 426
Mt TBR @ 30 June 2021: 423
Mt TBR @ 31 July 2021: 428

Items Read

89. Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire. Contemporary and historical fantasy. First book in the Ghost Roads. A hitchhiking ghost acts as a psychopomp for rural road deaths while hiding from the immortal who killed her. McGuire is always an entertaining read and the American Gothic atmosphere was perfect for mid-winter.

90. Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna. Gothic fantasy. Reviewed here.

91. take a picture by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies. A wonderfully gentle 5+1 times fic.

92. our hands speak for us (and complicate it) by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies. MJ checks in on Peter after the London battle. A little more physical than AppleJuiz usually writes, but still a long way from explicit. It also does a good job of conveying the awkwardness of young love.

93. Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown. Non-fiction. A new philosophy inspired by the work of Octavia Butler and grounded in social justice activism. There were some interesting ideas here and I especially appreciated the inspiration it took from nature. However, in trying to structure the book in a way that aligned with the philosophy, some clarity was sacrificed.

94. Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas. YA Contemporary fantasy. Hugo nominee. A young, trans brujo struggles to get his traditional family to accept his path on account of his gender. To prove himself, he tries to summon the ghost of his recently murdered cousin and ends up with the ghost of his high school’s bad boy instead. The story was a bit predictable in places and not especially deep, but the romance was sweet and handled well.

95. Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina. YA contemporary fantasy. Book club pick. Reread.

96. all I’ve ever known by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies. A version in which MJ is asexual and coming to terms with wanting to be in a romantic relationship. I can only aspire to be as awesome as MJ one day.

97. The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerising Girl by Theodora Goss. Historical fantasy. Third book in the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club. The members of the Athena Club band together to save their friend Alice and Sherlock Holmes from Doctor Moriarty’s clutches. A pitch-perfect conclusion to the series. I listened to the audio version, which was once again very capably narrated by Kate Reading.

98. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger. YA contemporary fantasy. Hugo nominee. A young Lipan Apache girl who can raise the ghosts of dead animals investigates the murder of her cousin after he appears to her in a dream. The world-building was wonderful, showing magic from multiple cultures interacting in interesting ways. It also shows how a teenage character can have an adventure with the support and even presence of her parents. A worthy Hugo nominee.

99. Soulless by Gail Carriger. Steampunk. First in the Parasol Protectorate. When she accidentally kills a vampire, Alexia must contend with the handsome werewolf lord sent to investigate. There was some head hopping that I didn’t enjoy and Alexia’s Italian heritage is dealt with in some troubling ways. But mostly, it was ridiculous fun.

100. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. Nonfiction. Ostensibly, a collection of essays reviewing random things from the human age, combined with some strong memoir elements. Although I’d encountered much of the material before via Green’s podcast of the same title (and I listened to Green narrate the book on audio), there was enough new material to keep things interesting. It was at times a heartbreaking meditation on the pandemic, depression and what it means to be human. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed four stars.

101. Black and Blue by Veronica Gorrie. Nonfiction memoir. Book club pick. An Indigenous Australian woman shares her upbringing and her time in the police force. Unsurprisingly, it contains some difficult material and comes with all the trigger warnings. However, the pared back style makes it a quick read.

102. Waste Not by Erin Rhoads. Nonfiction. Tips on environmental sustainability around the home.

103. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. YA Fantasy. Hugo nominee. Basically, the Hunger Games at Hogwarts, so expect some light horror tropes. I enjoyed it immensely.

Acquisitions

Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore
Subtle Blood by KJ Charles
Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yoshitani
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Black and Blue by Veronica Gorrie
Joyful Millitancy by Nick Montgomery and carla bergman
Waste Not by Erin Rhoads
Song of Flight by Juliet Marillier
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams
Now That I See You by Emma Batchelor
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

The post Mt TBR Report: July 2021 first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna

April 2020 was a bit of a rough time. Australia reeled from devastating bushfires straight into pandemic. Understandably, many books released around then missed my radar entirely. One of those was Monstrous Heart. Fortunately, the recent release of the sequel caught my attention and drew me into this deliciously Gothic series.

Arden Beacon comes from a long line of Sanguis Ignis, magic users whose blood can spark flame. The Beacons have a proud tradition as flame keepers, manning lighthouses all across the country. Arden’s talent is weak and she can aspire only to the smallest of posts. So, when the Eugenics Society offer her a short-term job at a lighthouse of her own in the fishing village of Vigil and afterward the chance to marry the man of her dreams, the offer seems too good to be true.

Arden’s only neighbour on the isolated promontory is Jonah Riven, a rough character rumoured to be half sea-monster and to have murdered his wife, Bellis. Arden finds herself strangely drawn to Bellis’s story and the man at the heart of it.

This book really embraces its Gothic elements in a number of ways. Riven most obviously stands in for the very shady love interest with the absent wife. More often than not, his shirt is in shreds or done away with entirely. Then we have Lord Justinian as the socially acceptable, but morally repugnant suitor. He lives in a literal crumbling manor house overlooking the sea, and Arden is forced to stay under his roof for a time until he eventually signs off on her suitability as Vigil’s flame keeper.

Vigil itself is a salt-encrusted fishing village where most of the people are poor and uneducated. It’s not quite the sort of place where everyone is distrustful of outsiders, though there are elements of that. However, Monstrous Heart is the sort of story where those with good intentions have them manipulated by less scrupulous characters. No good deed goes unpunished.

Because it embraces these Gothic elements, the story features a number of episodes of sudden violence. It’s a dark tale that should carry trigger warnings including but not limited to sexual assault, assault, drowning, eugenics and blood letting.

Indeed, eugenics and blood letting are major components of the world building. Magic is carried in the blood and activated through blood letting. The Eugenics Society keeps a record of all the blood lines and their abilities, conducting annual tests to scoop up anyone they might have overlooked. They have a keen interest in making sure these powers are maintained; weak though her ability is, Arden is not free to marry whomever she likes, but must gain permission from the society.

Despite the presence of a Eugenics Society, queer characters are not treated poorly by the world or the story, which was delightful to see.

Other elements of the world building sat oddly. There were strange traces of our world, mentions of the familiar twisted out of all familiarity. For example, one meal featured passenger pigeon pie and roasted dodo. It added to the sense of disquiet story builds. Given krakens play a major part of the story, I suspect a Lovecraft reference that I’m not well-versed enough to grasp. However, I hope that the connections will grow a little more clear as the series progresses and we see more of the world.

I found the style of writing a bit clunky in the beginning and the first third of the book is perhaps a touch slow. But it smooths out as things progress and the plot threw me some curve balls I definitely wasn’t expecting.

While it is a dark story, I didn’t find it depressing. I think this is in part due to an awareness of the Gothic tropes being played with, but also due to the human decency of the characters. While there are times they are undeniably selfish, these are balanced out by times when they are trying to help others. The characters all have other people they care about. These positive moments bring hope to the story, even as they serve to highlight the bleakness.

So, if sea monsters and Gothic love stories are your jam, I highly recommend checking out Monstrous Heart. I, for one, am glad the next book is already out.

Published: April 2020 by Harper Voyager
Format reviewed: E-book (epub), 400 pages
Series: The Monstrous Heart Trilogy
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Kobo
Available: Abbey’s ~ Amazon (AU, CA, UK, US) ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Booktopia ~ Dymocks ~ Indiebound ~ Kobo

The post Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Mt TBR Report: June 2021

June was a slower month for reading. My reading obligations dragged out longer than I anticipated and I picked up a new craft project.

Mt TBR Status

Mt TBR @ 1 January 2021: 426
Mt TBR @ 31 May 2021: 420
Mt TBR @ 30 June 2021: 423

Items Read

79. Shuri: The Search for Black Panther, Vol. 1 by Nnedi Okorafor & Leonardo Romero. Science fiction graphic novel. When T’Challa disappears on a space mission, it’s up to Shuri to take over as the Black Panther. Read for book club. Very disappointing. The art style didn’t agree with me and there were some very odd story choices, especially considering the author. For the first volume in a new series, it also doesn’t make a good entry point to the Marvel Universe.

81. European Travel for Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss. Fantasy. Mary Jekyll and the members of the Athena Club embark on a trip to Vienna to save Lucinda Van Helsing from the asylum in which her father has imprisoned her. Listened to on audio where Kate Reading once again does an amazing job, especially considering the cast grows and several European languages are spoken. I enjoyed Irene Adler’s appearance in the story, especially given Mary’s admiration for Sherlock Holmes. It was very nicely handled.

82. the long way down by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Andrew Garfield Spiderman movie. When the love of his life dies, Peter undertakes to follow in Orpheus’s footsteps and bring her back from the Underworld. Not my usual Spiderman fandom, but I couldn’t resist the Greek myth twist. Very poignant in its depiction of grief. I was also impressed that this Peter Parker feels a little different than the Tom Holland version AppleJuiz writes. But despite the skill of the piece, it hasn’t convinced me to join this fandom.

83. The Cruel Stars by John Birmingham. Military science fiction. Review forthcoming.

84. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. Fantasy novella. Hugo nominee. First book in the Singing Hills Cycle. A monk comes to a manor where the last empress was exiled. As they catalogue the items there, a former handmaiden tells them stories related to the items. Set in a world inspired by Imperial China, this is a fierce tale about the powerlessness and power of women. So far, my favourite of the Hugo nominees.

85. The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson. Historical fantasy. LDUH book club pick. A cartographer who can change reality with his maps goes on the run with a concubine of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula. While there were some lovely parts to it — in particular the friendship between Hassan and Fatima — it lacked coherency.

86. Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire. Fantasy novella. Sixth book in the Wayward Children series (but stands alone just fine). After discovering she’s intersex and consequently being rejected by a friend, Regan steps through a doorway into a world with all the mythical horse creatures. One of the gentler stories in the series. A lovely read, but it didn’t wow me.

87. Rebuilding Tomorrow edited by Tsana Dolichva. A collection of short stories featuring disabled and chronically ill protagonists rebuilding after the apocalypse. I read this with a friend over a number of months and the generally hopeful vibe of the stories was a balm in difficult times.

88. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Nonfiction. A series of essays written by a Native American ecologist about her relationship with the natural world. By turns heart-breaking and uplifting, it encouraged me to see the world in a different way.

Acquisitions

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerising Girl by Theodora Goss
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers by Alison Pouliot
Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt by Rosalie David
She’s Fantastic edited by Lucy Sussex and Judith Raphael Buckrich
Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey

The post Mt TBR Report: June 2021 first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster

There has been some delightful fantasy romance coming out of New Zealand recently. Last year’s WorldCon brought The Lord of Stariel to my attention and I’m very glad it did.

Hetta Valstar is not a respectable woman in the strictest sense. After all, she has magic: both illusion and pyromancy, the former of which she puts to use in special effects at the theatre where she’s employed. She wears red lipstick, carries her own luggage and likes to flirt (and sometimes more than flirt). Nevertheless, when her father dies, she returns home to Stariel, the family’s country estate, for the funeral. She must also participate in the ritual to determine the next Lord of Stariel. Most of the family expects Hetta’s eldest brother, Marcus, to inherit, or else her cousin, the former Lord Stariel’s preferred heir. But it is the land itself that gets to choose.

Of course, it chooses Hetta. Chaos ensues.

The Lord of Stariel is a charming story, with a 1920s vibe. Hetta herself reminds me somewhat of Miss Fisher: feminine, independent, capable and a low tolerance for sexism and patriarchal nonsense. Naturally, I loved her immediately.

I also enjoyed the way in which Hetta must come to terms with the life she has to give up, which she liked and wasn’t prepared to leave. Given the unpredictability of the last year or so, I suspect many will be able to relate.

The story is essentially a manor house mystery, although not a murder, despite starting with a death. To say more would be to spoil the story, so instead I shall say that the death brings together a reasonably large cast in the family. There’s a wonderful balance here between family conflict and genuine affection. I particularly enjoyed the warm relationship Hetta has with her brother Marius and the way it is troubled by the secrets being kept. I also appreciated that Hetta gets along with her stepfamily, despite she and her stepmother being rather different people. And although Hetta’s relationship with her cousin Jack isn’t always the smoothest, it is clear that Hetta understands and accepts (to some degree) the reasons why. Her aunt brings a stronger note of discordance with her strict notions of propriety and her outrage when Jack does not inherit Stariel.

Although a large part of the story is about family, that’s not all there is. On Hetta’s return, she finds that the gangly serving boy she had befriended as a child and written to steadily over the years has turned into a very handsome butler. Wyn is thoughful and charming, except when he’s avoiding Hetta. Nor is he the only handsome man around. Hetta’s childhood crush has become the lord of the neighbouring property and is paying attention now that Hetta is a grown woman.

Looming over all of this is the immanent threat of the fae descending on Stariel, now that the King of the Fae has found a way out of the faerie world. The Lord of Stariel needs to step forward and protect the land.

The pacing is perhaps a touch slow in places, as the various threads are being laid in place, but it does make space for some lovely moments of connection between the various characters.

So, if you’re looking for something reasonably light and charming to combat these dark times, The Lord of Stariel may be the book for you.

The post The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Mt TBR Report: May 2021

My To-Be-Read pile is starting to creep upward again, despite another excellent month of reading. May saw me run out of podcasts and consequently go on something of an audiobook binge.

Mt TBR Status

Mt TBR @ 1 January 2021: 426
Mt TBR @ 30 April 2021: 416
Mt TBR @ 31 May 2021: 420

Items Read

59. The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan. Historical f/m romance. Third book in the Brothers Sinister series. Violet knows it would be a scandal to be recognised as the author of her ground-breaking scientific work. So, for years she has convinced her childhood friend and notorious rake to present them as his own. However, when Sebastian declares he can no longer continue with this deception, it sends their relationship down a new path. This book, while amazing, was not quite what I’d expected based on the depiction of these characters in previous books and I never really got past that. A shame, because it does some quite wonderful things.

60. The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan. Historical f/m romance. Fourth book in the Brothers Sinister series. An aristocrat left by his family to die discovers his brother has a vendetta against the lovely owner of a feminist newspaper. So, he offers his services in foiling his family. This was more the book I’d expected The Countess Conspiracy to be. I particularly enjoyed the witty banter.

61. Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan. Historical f/m romance. Follow-up novella to the Brothers Sinister series. An infamous advice columnist falls in love with an astronomical calculator and convinces her to give him lessons on astronomy on the pretext that it’s research for his next book. There were some charming moments and I particularly like the way it shows Rose really is a genius. It also injects some much-needed diversity into the series. But I did not love it as much as some of Milan’s other work.

62. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. Science fiction m/m romance. Reviewed here.

63. Wintering by Katherine May. Memoir. A meditation on cold and fallow seasons, both literally and metaphorically. This was very much a case of right book, right time for me, with several sections resonating with my experiences.

64. The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster. Fantasy romance. Review forthcoming.

65. and now I’m covered by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies. Fourth story in the my house of stone, your ivy grows series. With Peter Parker’s identity as Spiderman now revealed to the world, Peter goes on the run with MJ and Ned. Delightfully awkward about feelings, but also showing that you don’t always need words to be there for the people you care about.

66. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. Post-apocalyptic Weird West. A young woman stows away in a Librarian’s book wagon to escape an arranged marriage. Lots of queer feelings, but ultimately not the book for me.

67. Siege and Storms by Leigh Bardugo. YA fantasy. Second book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. When the Darkling emerges from the fold with a new army, Alina must return to Ravka to stand against him. Cinematic and plenty of drama; I look forward to the Netflix adaptation. However, I was a bit less happy with the treatment of Genya.

68. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Fantasy. Piranesi lives in a labrinthine House populated by statues and frequently flooded by tides. He sees his friend, the Other, twice a week. When it becomes evident that someone new is in the House, their delicate balance begins to tip out of control. This book reminded me a lot of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, but lacking much of the sense of fun. However, I very much enjoyed the mythic feel of the story and Clarke’s continuing preoccupation with ceremonial vs natural magic.

69. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. Middle-grade fantasy. With the help of some odd friends, a young girl goes to save her father from an evil power. Lovely, but I think I’m past the age to truly appreciate this classic. I found it notably American in places. However, Meg is very relatable, and I enjoyed Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which.

71. The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers. Science fiction. Fourth and final book in the Wayfarers series. When disaster strikes an intergalactic travel stop, three travellers must shelter in place at a the equivalent of a caravan park. This was the perfect book for these times: low on conflict, high on people helping each other out. Possibly my favourite of the series.

72. Network Effect by Martha Wells. Science fiction. Fifth book in the Murderbot series. Reread for book club.

73-75. Skip Beat Vols 43-45 by Yoshiki Nakamura. Contemporary. I’m not even going to try and sum up the plot of this convoluted and long-running manga. Suffice to say that it ends on a terrible cliffhanger which makes it seem that after nearly 20 years, this series might soon be coming to a close.

76. The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss. Fantasy. Reread, sort of. When Mary Jekyll’s mother dies, she’s left in financial difficulties. So, when she comes across a clue to the whereabouts of Mr Hyde, she remembers there’s a reward offered for information and she begins to investigate. Having read the print version, I picked up the audio version to see how the format would handle the footnotes. The narrator does an amazing job, considering the large cast of characters and the numerous languages and accents.

77. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. Science fiction. Sixth book of the Murderbot series. Murderbot is called on to solve a murder on Preservation Station. I love both Murderbot and mysteries, so I was surprised to find myself feeling somewhat ambivalent about this book. While it calls upon Murderbot to establish some new relationships, it does nothing to further existing ones.

Acquisitions

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger
Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
Eyes on the Stars by Sean Williams
Succulents and Spells by Andi C. Buchanan
To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster
You Only Love Twice by Bec McMaster
Shuri, Vol. 1 by Nnedi Okorafor
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss
Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna
Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire
Wintering by Katherine May
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Skip Beat Vols 44 & 45 by Yoshiki Nakamura
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

The post Mt TBR Report: May 2021 first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

The Course of Honour has been on my TBR pile for so long that it has been turned from fanfic into the published novel Winter’s Orbit. But despite the long wait and all the hype, it turned out to be not the story for me.

Count Jainan’s home planet of Thea is barely able to keep the Iskat Empire from taking over. So, when the Imperial Prince Jainan’s married to dies suddenly, he allows himself to be rushed into another arranged marriage with the prince’s cousin, Kiem, in order to preserve the alliance. Although Kiem doesn’t exactly take his duties as an Imperial Prince seriously and has a reputation as a bit of a playboy, he proves surprisingly helpful as Jainan starts to investigate the possible murder of his former husband.

This story had a lot of elements I enjoy. I’m a sucker for reserved/sunshine pairings. I also love a good slow-burn romance. And I am all here for political intrigue. But although it was an entertaining enough read, it ultimately left me feeling rather ambivalent.

It’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly why. It may be that it was trying to do too much, because I found that neither the romance nor the science fiction elements were all that robust. There’s a lot of miscommunication between Jainan and Kiem. While there are some good reasons for that, it means that the physical aspects of their relationship jumped from no to go very quickly. (Readers concerned that some of the smuttier aspects of fanfic have made its way into the book should know that the sex scenes fade to black). Any intimacy between the characters is very limited, sandwiched between disasters. Which keeps up the pacing, but isn’t entirely satisfying as a romance.

As for the science fiction elements, aspects of the worldbuilding also felt shaky. There are passing references to God, despite it being unclear if this was in any way tied to our world, emphasising the flimsiness of the religious systems mentioned. But on a more grounded level, a large reptile makes an appearance in a snowy environment without any clue as to how a cold-blooded creature survives such a landscape (magic, I guess?). It’s supposed to serve as a joke (after all, bears are supposed to have four legs and fur), but just jolted me out of the narrative.

(Incidentally, for a while I was wondering if Iskat is meant to be Australia. Case in point: all the wildlife is constantly trying to kill the characters. But the presence of snow conclusively says not.)

That said, there were aspects of the worldbuilding I enjoyed. I’m always here for societies where gay relationships are normalised. The presence of nonbinary characters in this world was also normalised, although this could have used some work. The most prominent of the nonbinary characters (as well as one of the other minor nonbinary characters) was something of an antagonist in the narrative. It would have been good to have this balanced out with a few more nonbinary characters in more supportive roles.

Another thing I enjoyed was that there were lots of women in positions of power (including the Emperor and the Crown Prince). Often in stories that focus on gay relationships, the presence of women seems to disappear entirely. That definitely wasn’t the case in Winter’s Orbit. One of the stars of the show was Kiem’s assistant Bel, who proves herself a total badass on a number of axes (including administration, be still my beating heart). Word is that there’s set to be a companion novel and I have my fingers crossed that it will feature Bel.

This story should come with a content warning for intimate partner abuse. I am not the best person to judge, but it seemed to me to be handled reasonably well. There were times when I thought the good-with-people character should have picked up on it faster. But on the other hand, I think it’s realistic that people attribute the signs to other stories they already have about the victim. And the narrative also makes it clear that it was to certain others’ advantage for them to ignore those signs.

All in all, Winter’s Orbit was an entertaining enough read, but ultimately unmemorable.

Published: February 2021 by Tor Books
Format reviewed: E-book (mobi), 384 pages
Genres: Science fiction, romance
Source: NetGalley
Available: Abbey’s ~ Amazon (AU, CA, UK, US) ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Booktopia ~ Dymocks ~ Indiebound ~ Kobo

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The post Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

Mt TBR Report: April 2021

Last month, I mentioned I was trying a new approach to my TBR, recommended by Sandstone. Safe to say it has been very effective. This was probably also helped by some improvements in my health.

Mt TBR Status

Mt TBR @ 1 January 2021: 426
Mt TBR @ 31 March 2021: 425
Mt TBR @ 30 April 2021: 416

Items Read

36. How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger. Paranormal romance. First book in the Claw and Courtship series. A ruined American heiress is sent to distant family in London to seek a werewolf for a husband. A reasonably fluffy novella featuring both a geology-geek girl and a horse girl; I’m pretty sure it was written just for me. The ending was a touch disappointing, but I shall definitely be delving deeper into Gail Carriger’s work.

37. Cipher by Moira Rogers. Paranormal romance. Fourth book in the Southern Arcana series. A powerful empath and a newly-turned werewolf get a second chance at romance while on the run from a cult. At this point in the series, Moira Rogers has really found their voice and they do a great job of setting up for the rest of the series.

38. Impulse by Moira Rogers. Paranormal romance. Fifth book in the Southern Arcana series. In order to avoid her abusive ex, a coyote shifter goes on a road trip with a wolf shifter. I enjoyed the characters, but the book’s emphasis on instinct didn’t really work for me.

39. Kokomo by Victoria Hannan. Contemporary fiction. When her mother leaves the house for the first time in twelve years, Mina flies home to Melbourne to find out why. Not really my jam. I found it a bit pretentious and full of existential ennui.

40. Enigma by Moira Rogers. Paranormal romance. Sixth book in the Southern Arcana series. A pair of bounty hunters attempt to keep their minds on the job and their hands off each other as they hunt down a kidnapped werewolf. A bit ridiculous in places, but fun. However, I found the overall arc of the series rather weak compared to the authors’ work as Kit Rocha.

41. A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. Science fiction, space opera. Second book in the Teixcalaan series. Reviewed here.

42. The Wrong Foot by Stephanie Burgis. Fantasy short story. A retelling of Cinderella in which the shoe left behind at the ball fits the foot of a woman who definitely didn’t wear it. I loved this antihero Cinderella.

44. The Pearl by Tiffany Reisz. Erotica. Third book in the Godwicks series. A young lord is coerced into working off his brother’s debt by sleeping with the owner of the hotel. This story throws back to the artwork of the first book of the series more than the mythology of the second, but I nevertheless enjoyed it immensely.

47. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. Science fiction. First book in the Themis Files. An epistolary story about a team put together to study a giant metal hand. It’s an interesting tale in dialogue with many others of its genre and does particularly well with examining the geopolitical ramifications of such a situation. However, it was very much a plot-driven story rather than character-driven and I felt the format did it a disservice in places.

48. Girls Who Read Austen by Tansy Rayner Roberts. Fantasy short story. A monster girl attending university just wants to find a decent roommate. Short and amusing, especially if you’re familiar with your legendary monstrous Greek women.

49. The Curious Case of the Clockwork Menace by Bec McMaster. Steampunk mystery. Book 3.5 in the London Steampunk series. A pair of Nighthawks must track down a murderer while coming to terms with their growing attraction. A bit predictable and angsty, but entertaining enough.

50. The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan. F/m historical romance. Prequel to the Brothers Sinister. Reread.

51. putting my roots in dreamland by AppleJuiz. Fanfic of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies. Third story in the my house of stone, your ivy grows series. Does an excellent job of aligning the previous work in the series with the canon of Spiderman: Far From Home.

52. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan. F/m historical romance. First book in the Brothers Sinister. Reread

53. Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Contemporary fantasy. When a young woman is kidnapped by vampires, she finds her own magic is more powerful than she imagined. The style is first person and a bit rambly, but it grounds the story in a vibrant world. I found the plot a touch flimsy in places, but an excellent read.

54. Finna by Nino Cipri. Science fiction novella. When an elderly customer at not-IKEA gets lost in a portal to another dimension, two junior employees are sent to find her. The trouble is they just broke up a week ago. The dynamic between the two main characters is perfect — still hurt, but also still in touch with what they liked about each other. The setting is bonkers in the best way. The book’s Hugo nomination is well deserved.

55. A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan. F/m historical romance. Spinoff novella from the Brothers Sinister. Only one person knows the dark secret in Lydia’s past, but although she’s determined to avoid him, he has other ideas. Lydia’s capacity for self-deception was already starting to annoy me, so it was a good decision to keep this to novella length.

57. The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan. F/m historical romance. Second book in the Brothers Sinister. A wealth heiress must remain unmarried in order to protect her sister. This series has been a wealth of intelligent women and this book was no exception. Jane’s efforts to keep others at arm’s length were masterful and a delight to read.

58. Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark. Historical fantasy and horror. In a world in which the Ku Klux Klan are literal monsters, it’s up to three young black women to save the day. My US history is a little shaky, so I probably didn’t grasp all the cultural references and implications. But the story was wonderfully atmospheric and creepy, ringing with truth despite the fantastic elements.

Acquisitions

An Uncertain Grace by Krissy Keen
Finna by Nino Cipri
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Overdues and Occultism by Jamie Sands
The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

The post Mt TBR Report: April 2021 first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

Arkady Martine’s novel, A Memory Called Empire, was a stunning debut, offering up a richly imagined world and digging into themes of identity and colonialism with sensitivity and nuance. A Desolation Called Peace meets the high bar set by its predecessor, developing the world and existing relationships with the same eye for nuance, as well as breaking new ground.

Having rescued Lsel Station from the threat of the Teixcalaan Empire (at least for the time being), Ambassador Mahit Dzmare returns home to find she’s in even more hot water there. Fortunately, she’s saved (again, at least for the time being) by the wheels that she set in motion. The new Emperor has sent out a fleet to investigate Mahit’s report of a ravenous alien race not far from Lsel Station. When the fleet captain puts out a call for a diplomat and linguist to make first contact, Three Seagrass answers, collecting Mahit along the way.

There is so much to be delighted by in this book. I was thrilled to have Mahit and Three Seagrass reunited and particularly by the difficulties of their relationship. The story acknowledges the way these characters haven’t known each other for very long and most of that time involved intense events. While in some ways they know each other intimately, in others they don’t know each other at all. This tension permeates their interactions. It is equalised somewhat by Three Seagrass stepping out of her comfort zone and leaving the Jewel of the World, the capital of Teixcalaan. But on board a Teixcalaan vessel, she’s still in Empire territory and the balance of power between these characters remains very unequal. While Mahit is still officially the Ambassador of Lsel Station, there is no call for her to act in that capacity and the military only suffer her presence because she is there at the behest of Special Envoy Three Seagrass. As a non-citizen, Mahit is not entitled to wear the eyehooks so ubiquitous to the Empire. If Three Seagrass storms off in a huff, Mahit is left unable to navigate the ship or even do something as simple as open a door, leaving her literally lost and helpless. Although Mahit and Three Seagrass have missed each other during their time apart, this has not magically erased the colonialist tensions in their relationship.

We also get some new perspective characters. The Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus enables the reader to get a good grasp of the military situation — not only of the conflict with the aliens, but also of the schisms within the fleet. After all, what is the Empire without politics? However, the author is also savvy enough to give Nine Hibiscus her own emotional stakes. The deliciously understated relationship between the Fleet Captain and her second-in-command subtly echoes some of the dynamics of the relationship between Three Seagrass and Mahit, while also highlighting some differences. Nine Hibiscus and Three Seagrass embody idealised types of Teixcalaans: the war general and the poet. In contrast, Mahit and Twenty Cicada are outsiders, with Twenty Cicada practicing a minority religion and Mahit being a non-citizen. The difference is that despite Twenty Cicada’s otherness, he remains part of the Empire. He is a strange Teixcalaan, but he’s still a Teixcalaan. Thus, he is permitted to wear an eyehook, serve in the military, and make himself an ubiquitous and useful presence in a way that Mahit never can. His decades long, apparently non-sexual relationship with Nine Hibiscus also provides a strong contrast to the central relationship.

Another significant and new perspective character is the Imperial Heir Eight Antidote. He was introduced in the previous book as the clone of Emperor Six Direction. Now approaching his teens, he takes his place on the Empire’s stage. And, as I said before, what is the Empire without politics? Eight Antidote finds himself being manipulated and begins to learn the art of manipulation in turn. He’s a surprisingly sweet character, with an earnestness that’s endearing and makes an excellent foil to his intelligence. It’s unclear at this stage whether there will be any further books in this series (I’ve got my fingers crossed), but if there is, including Eight Antidote in this book is a brilliant stroke. Seeing him as a perspective character when he’s so relatively innocent has made me feel attached to him, reinforcing an emotional connection to the Empire he will one day inherit.

And lastly, we get to the aliens themselves. Parts of the book put me in mind of the movie Arrival. It is, after all, a first contact story with truly alien aliens, creatures who communicate in such a different way to humans but who undeniably communicate. And there’s a time pressure from the military to get things figured out before they come in with guns blazing. This association also amuses me, since Teixcaan itself is a culture of references, with a literary quote for all occasions.

The exact nature of the aliens brought to mind many other (largely recent) texts, which shall remain nameless for the time being to avoid spoilers. This disappointed me at first, since it is becoming well-trodden ground (if it isn’t already so). However, the ending brought a new approach that was satisfyingly original.

While I could go on (and already have at length without even touching on the secrets or space cats), suffice it to say A Desolation Called Peace is an intelligent, engaging book that does a fantastic job of building on what came before. I can only hope there’s more to come.

Published: March 2021 by Tor Books
Format reviewed: E-book (mobi), 496 pages
Series: Teixcalaan #2
Genres: Science fiction, space opera
Source: NetGalley
Available: Abbey’s ~ Amazon (AU, CA, UK, US) ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Booktopia ~ Dymocks ~ Kobo

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The post A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.