Hester

Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Edinburgh for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they've arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.

When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward's safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?

In this sensuous and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our country's complicated past, and learns that America's ideas of freedom and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel and Nathaniel's story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a "real" American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of "unusual" women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet evocatively imagined, Hester is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.

A vivid reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and a journey into the enduring legacy of New England's witchcraft trials.

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own. 

First off, the cover of this book is simply beautiful. I first looked at requesting it because of that, then when I saw that it was a "reimaging of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne" of The Scarlet Letter, I knew I had to request it. So I did. 

This was so worth it! I loved that Isobel saw the world in colors. Something that is a real medical issue and something I can imagine back then was considered witchcraft. I loved seeing her learn and grow into the woman she was born to be. Seriously, just read the description of this book and tell me you don't want to read it. It is just beautiful writing. I am going to see if this lady has written more because it was amazing. 

The Lunar Chronicles II

This is the second part in my review of the Lunar Chronicles series. IF you want to read my reviews of the first books, they are here. 

Princess Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She's said to be even more breath-taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana...

When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter claim their happily ever afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

Winter is book four in the Lunar Chronicles and the ending to this amazing series. 

If you haven't read the first three books, read them! Winter did not disappoint me at all. I finished most of this book in two days. As much as I enjoyed the book (and the series overall) but the ending was bittersweet for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved it. It wrapped things up quite nicely just the way I like them. BUT it's the end. Just makes me sad because throughout this series, you fall in love with these characters. Not sure there is a way that it could have ended that didn't leave me wanting for more. The great news for me is that there is a book full of short stories and graphic novels to look forward to.

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies? With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

CONTENTS

The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.

This story tells how Scarlet comes to be in her grandmother's care and how she came to care for Princess Selene. I love that you get to know Michelle Benoit a bit, since you didn't get to know her much in the series, you only know how much Scar loved her. 

Glitches: Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…

Coming straight from the book about Michelle Benoit, this one comes from young Cinder's perspective, coming to her new home having just awoken from her surgeries. I loved getting to see her first reactions to her life. Having no memories of her previous life, she is basically an alien learning all about her new world. 

The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

Wolf's origin story. Though this story doesn't name him as such. I love how even as a child, before his changes, he was determined to never become a monster. Seeing how the surgery didn't change his heart. Knowing what comes to him later. My heart kind of broke for this young man. I loved seeing his story from the beginning. 

Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.

Who knew Carswell Thorne was from a well-off family? Who knew that the Rampion wasn't just a ship stolen in an opportunity but one he had dreamed of. I loved seeing the young Thorne move through school, even then scheming to get ahead. The love he shared with others. 

After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.

Then there is the story of how Cress comes to be on the satellite. It is heartbreaking to know the hope that she had for a future, but then it is also good to know that we know her future, that she does get to travel the world, have adventures. 

The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a young Winter and Jacin playing a game called the Princess and the Guard…

You know from Winter that Jacin and Winter have a special bond, in this short story you get to see the beginning of that bond. I love that even as children they were so close. That so many of Jacin's decisions were just for her. I love that he supports her, even if he doesn't agree with her decision, even if he knows that it will hurt her to do what she's doing. 

The Little Android: The Little Android is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles by New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer. When android Mech6.0 saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her body is destroyed, and her mechanics discover a glitch in her programming. Androids aren’t meant to develop impractical reasoning or near-emotional responses…let alone fall in love.

This story has nothing to do with the original characters. It is based on the original little mermaid. I loved this retelling. It was just beautiful to see the "glitch" that made this android different. It reminded me of Iko in the series, the glitch that made her what she was. Funny, until now I didn't get the voice-loss thing! 

The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.

To see the same story from a different set of eyes is just fun. I loved seeing the first meeting from the other side of the stall. To know what Kai was thinking, not just Cinder. Now we need to know Iko's story! 

Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century…

This is just a beautiful story of the wedding of (spoiler alert) Scarlet and Wolf. I loved how simple things ended up being, even in the chaos of a former queen and an emperor in attendance. Seeing Scarlet using her grandmother's shotgun to get rid of the press is just perfect. I laughed out loud! 

Five stars! This is a most excellent book of extra stories to be a companion to the Lunar Chronicles. Cannot wait to read about Cinder and Kai's wedding 

The Winter Guest

January 1921. Though the Great War is over, in Ireland a new civil war is raging. The once-grand Kilcolgan House, a crumbling bastion shrouded in sea mist, lies half empty and filled with ghosts, both real and imagined, while it shelters the surviving members of the Prendeville family. Then, when an IRA ambush goes terribly wrong, Maud Prendeville, Lord Kilcolgan’s eldest daughter, is killed, leaving the family reeling. Yet the IRA column behind the attack insists they left her alive, that someone else must be responsible for her terrible fate. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former fiancé, is sent to investigate. He becomes an unwelcome guest in this strange, gloomy household.

Working undercover, Harkin must delve into the house's secrets—and discover where, in this fractured, embattled town, allegiances truly lie. But Harkin too is haunted by the ghosts of the past and by his terrible experiences on the battlefields. Can he find the truth about Maud's death before the past—and his strange, unnerving surroundings—overwhelm him?

The Winter Guest is a gripping and immersive read for fans of classic mysteries by the likes of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers along with Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge series, Ann Cleeves, and Jacqueline Winspear.

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.

Honestly, not what I was expecting. This was a lot like the classic who-dunnits. It is set in the time of Ireland's civil war. Harkin is trying to figure out why his friend Maud was killed. One thing I really enjoyed was seeing some of the historical aspects of the civil war in Ireland. I've read other books that take place in this time period, but not so closely with the war itself. Mostly I enjoyed the characters. They felt real. Seeing Harkin try to grapple with his war injuries and also the mental wounds that are also still healing. It is something very relatable.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The book that inspired the hit film!

Sundance U.S. Dramatic Audience Award
Sundance Grand Jury

This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about death.

It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.

This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.

Last night when I finished this, I gave it three stars. It just fell flat at the ed for me, but looking back, I am going to bump that up to four. 

First of all, some trigger warnings: crude language, sexual content, talk of death and dying. 

While parts of this book were completely ridiculous, others were quite true to live. Andrews definitely has a new take on the story of teenagers dealing with the death of a friend. Greg is trying his best to just get through high school living on the edges, not being too close to any one group. That's how you keep high school from completely sucking. According to the back of the book, that lasts a whole eight hours before Greg's mom makes him become friends with a girl who has cancer and "brings about the destruction of Greg's life." What Greg doesn't realize until the end of the book, he didn't have much of a life to begin with. I'm glad this book didn't go into a romance between Greg and "the dying girl," Rachel. Some of the scenes with Rachel were just plane "cringe" (in the language of my teenagers). Even Greg says so in his writing. Some of the scenes are even written out like a play. This story gets quite crude very early on. My 13-year-old daughter read it and said that it made her very uncomfortable. Didn't seem to add anything to the story other then it was from the viewpoint of a teenage boy, and apparently that's what they think and talk about? I don't know, I enjoyed how real it felt. The things that Greg was feeling about being friends with this girl out of obligation, the way he felt about her dying. It just felt genuine. 

The Red Queen Series - Part II

This is a continuation of my review of the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. I read the first two way back in 2017 and then re-read them before continuing with the next two books. You can read my review of the first two books here. 

In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion? Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

The first half of this book made me feel so sad for Mare, being stuck with Maven, trapped in a gilded cage, powerless and unable to help herself. The attempts are good ones, but will one ever succeed? Or will the silent stone make her crazy first? While the last book had me hoping for some kind of redemption for Maven, this book seemed to erase that possibility completely. I love that you see the real reason for the way that Maven is. 

Victory comes at a price.

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

Not what I was expecting. I love how this saga wrapped up. The stories of the war and the battles over Norta are quite graphic at times. First, the reds and newbloods work together to get the crown from Maven, then they want to end the monarchy. The battle scenes really painted such vivid pictures, it made me feel like I was really there. Seeing Mare finally get to settle with her family after all is said and done was just beautiful. While there wasn't the "happily ever after" with Cal that I was secretly hoping for, it seems there is still a slightly open door. There is also a new way of life for their entire world to figure out. Luckily, they have someone around who has been through it and can help guide them. 

Desperation in Death

The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a gripping new thriller that pits homicide detective Eve Dallas against a conspiracy of exploitation and evil…

New York, 2061: The place called the Pleasure Academy is a living nightmare where abducted girls are trapped, trained for a life of abject service while their souls are slowly but surely destroyed. Dorian, a thirteen-year-old runaway who’d been imprisoned there, might never have made it out if not for her fellow inmate Mina, who’d hatched the escape plan. Mina was the more daring of the two—but they’d been equally desperate.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get away fast enough. Now Dorian is injured, terrified, and wandering the streets of New York, and Mina lies dead near the waterfront while Lt. Eve Dallas looks over the scene.

Mina’s expensive, elegant clothes and beauty products convince Dallas that she was being groomed, literally and figuratively, for sex trafficking—and that whoever is investing in this high-overhead operation expects windfall profits. Her billionaire husband, Roarke, may be able to help, considering his ties to the city’s ultra-rich. But Roarke is also worried about the effect this case is having on Dallas, as it brings a rage to the surface she can barely control. No matter what, she must keep her head clear--because above all, she is desperate for justice and to take down those who prey on and torment the innocent.

Another amazing story. This one does get hard to listen to, the case deals with the trafficking of young girls and women for sex. While this is a difficult issue, it is a relevant one. One that is a problem right now. I think any attention brought to this horrible issue is good attention. It needs to end and to do that we need to bring it out of the shadows and into the light. Maybe we just need Eve Dallas and her team?

This Book Is Gay

Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who's ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.

There's a long-running joke that, after "coming out," a lesbian, gay guy, bisexual, or trans person should receive a membership card and instruction manual. THIS IS THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL. You're welcome.

Inside you'll find the answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask: from sex to politics, hooking up to stereotypes, coming out and more. This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBT also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

You will be entertained. You will be informed. But most importantly, you will know that however you identify (or don't) and whomever you love, you are exceptional. You matter. And so does this book.

As part of my banned books reading journey, I picked this book up. Not realizing it was less of a story and more of a guide, I was quite excited to learn more about the gay culture. 

This book helped me understand some of the words and phrases that my kid has been using. It also had a few chapters that I skipped over such as "coming out", "where to meet people like you" and "the ins and outs of gay sex." Those just felt more like they would be aimed at someone reading the book as a gay or LGBTQ+ person. 

As the mother of someone in the community, it felt empowering to learn more about this amazing group of people. I loved the chapter about the gay icons (there is even a glossary with all the names, so you can dive deeper and learn more on your own).

I love that the author used stories and quotes from people within the community. It pulled the book together nicely. 

Look Alive 25

Stephanie Plum faces the toughest puzzle of her career in the twenty-fifth entry in Janet Evanovich's #1 New York Times bestselling series.

There's nothing like a good deli and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World famous for its pastrami, cole slaw and for its disappearing managers. Over the last month, three have vanished from the face of the earth, the only clue in each case is one shoe that's been left behind. The police are baffled. Lula is convinced that it's a case of alien abduction. Whatever it is, they'd better figure out what's going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

My rating: five of five stars

Stephanie and Lula are at it again. This time, in addition to their bounty hunting duties, they are also managing a local deli. 

The only problem is that the managers of this deli seem to be disappearing... leaving behind only a shoe. 

Yet another book that kept me laughing right on through. Just thinking about Lula making sandwiches has me laughing again!

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out

A groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens.

Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves.

This is a collection of stories about several transgender teens. I'm purposely not putting a star rating on this because I don't feel it appropriate to put a rating on their stories, because they are just that their stories. Seeing the journeys that each of these people have gone through is something that has helped me to grow as a person. I've tried to explain to my husband why it is so important for me to be gender affirming to those who are in this situation (or anyone for that matter) and this book just gives me more reasons to do so. You never know what someone is dealing with. If I can help one person to feel like themselves in their own skin by using pronouns that make them comfortable, I'm going to do that. This book (and others that I've read recently) are opening my eyes to the people who have been too long kept in the shadows or the closet. Let them out and let them be who they are.