Poll

This is an accumulation of books that, for various reasons, didn't make it into the Mod Madness and incidentally, all fit a theme!

The accidental theme of this poll is Family Curses.

When the Angels Left the Old Country is sort of like Jewish "Good Omens" in that it features a demon and an angel who are besties and perhaps lifemates, but it explores immigration, the terror of borders, and oppression, while staying hopeful and full of heart. What, you want me to tell you what's cursed? So, I have to do everything around here? Read the book yourself, you nudge.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an exceptionally assured, hard but loving look at family--the good and the bad, the inherited and the cultural. It offers grace, joy, and validation that yeah, families are messy, and yeah, bad things happen, but that doesn't have to be how the story ends.

The Saint of Bright Doors is interesting, exploring the rise and fall of religion, of oppressive states, of statelessness, of forbidden love and chosen family. Contemplative, borderline satirical, for a book on brightness, it does highlight a lot of the dark with compassion and thoughtfulness. For example, this family curse is bestowed by a mother, and there's probably a lot to unpack about that as well.

The Last Sun is one I think deserves attention. It's a fascinating, brutal world with your typically down-on-his-luck-but-damned-if-he'll-quit protagonist. What makes this one more interesting is the magic and the very strong brothers at arms characterization. Heads up, the only reason this one didn't make it into the polls is the intense and graphic content explored. I think a lot of folks will see a lot to like here, but it is more grimdark than we tend to intentionally include in polls. It won't take you long to figure out how this one relates to family curses.

And finally, Thistlefoot. Probably one of the best books I read this year, another story of complicated families, magic that is dreamy in both the atmosphere and the inclination towards the nightmarish. Nothing in this one is easy or taken for granted, and the characters are strong, their ambitions relatable, and their life right out of a fairytale--just not the Disney version. I'll let Thistlefoot tell you about the curse herself.

Absatively shocked you all are letting me get the last word on this. Fortify! Who among you will lead us from chaos to certainty?!