This is a fun little novella set in the Rivers of London world, but I’d recommend having read at least one of those before diving into this. You CAN rThis is a fun little novella set in the Rivers of London world, but I’d recommend having read at least one of those before diving into this. You CAN read this as a standalone, but I think you’ll get way more out of it if you’re familiar with this universe.
Welcome to the Harlem Renaissance, 1920’s New York City. The jazz scene is in full swing as we’re introduced to Augustus Berrycloth-Young, British ex-pat, magician, and former schoolmate of one Thomas Nightingale. Gussie, as he’s known, is very aristocratic, very dandy, and very gay. I absolutely LOVE the setting of the queer community in 20’s Harlem and the cast of characters we meet. The voice is very, very different from Peter Grant, and honestly I found Gussie very annoying at the beginning. He grew on me though, and once Nightingale showed up on the scene things picked up quickly and I found myself Gussie as the reluctant hero.
Nightingale is in search of a magical object and needs Gussie’s help. He reluctantly tries to balance helping Nightingale while hiding the truth of who he is – a queer man in a society that does not approve.
I enjoyed seeing pre-war Nightingale, but there wasn’t very much magic evident in this story, which is always a bit of a let-down. Despite that it’s still pretty action packed, and the climax at the titular Masquerade was a great bit of fun. All in all, this is a lighthearted and fast paced novella that any Rivers of London fan will enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! ...more
A Song to Drown Rivers is a historical fantasy based on the story of Xi Shi, one of China’s legendary Four Beauties. It follows the events of the legeA Song to Drown Rivers is a historical fantasy based on the story of Xi Shi, one of China’s legendary Four Beauties. It follows the events of the legend very closely, with a few exceptions.
Xishi is so stunning that she comes to the attention of the King of Yue and his advisor, Fanli. They decide to train her as a spy and send her on a revenge mission to the neighboring King of Wu, using her to topple his regime. Posing as a concubine, she is meant to distract the enemy king and open the way for her people to invade.
It’s a beautiful story with skillful writing. I love a woman using her intelligence and turning men’s weakness, and incomprehension of her as more than an object, against them. The romance is bittersweet, (though not very spicy, for those looking for that) but what I liked most about this story was Xishi’s character growth. Her family experienced trauma at the hands of Wu soldiers, and so it’s understandable that she has a deeply ingrained hatred for all Wu people, considering them all heinous, murdering villains. Once forced to live among them, she begins to realize how similar Wu and Yue people are, and that the only thing truly separating them is a line on a map. She meets people who experienced the same atrocities she did, but at the hands of her own people. You can see as her world expands.
My only quibble is that there are aspects of this story that are unrealistic in terms of adult behavior, and the timeline is ridiculous – an untrained, innocent village girl is trained to become a royal spy extraordinaire in only 10 months? – but keep in mind, this is a YA book, so I don’t really count that against the story at all.
And that ENDING! Now that was entirely unexpected, and I loved it. For me, that ending made up for any minor criticisms I may have had along the way.
If you like historical fantasy, particularly inspired by Chinese legends, and you like YA romantasy, check this one out.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
“1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a you“1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester. Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the forbidding Rose Hall to restore its rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife…”
This was an enjoyable read, but the ‘surprise twists’ were so clearly telegraphed they weren’t any surprise at all. It also wasn’t nearly as shocking as it tried to be, and the bookish/book binding aspect of the story was minimal. That said, it explored the ideas of colonialism, being mixed race in an oppressive society, the feelings and difficulties involved in passing as white in that society. And not only the oppression of being a minority, but a minority woman who isn’t of higher class, at the mercy of “noble” men who are used to getting what they want, when they want it, who consider those beneath them as inherently “lesser.” But it’s also a story of self discovery, community, and found family.
While this is historical fiction, there’s a lot that isn’t necessarily historically accurate, but the broad strokes are there. If you’re interested in stories of Victorian England that aren’t just all about rich, straight, white aristocracy, then there’s a lot in this book to love. ...more
Disturbing the Dead is the third book in a time traveling mystery series set in Victorian Scotland. Mallory Atkinson is a modern day cop, but a murderDisturbing the Dead is the third book in a time traveling mystery series set in Victorian Scotland. Mallory Atkinson is a modern day cop, but a murderous encounter in a dark alleyway leaves her somehow stranded in another time and another woman’s body. While she struggles to find a way home she also has to survive in 1860s Scotland, and she becomes entangled in the life of Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and medical examiner. She’s soon assisting him in solving cases, forming friendships, and finding herself wondering – does she really want to go home?
In this book Mallory and Gray are invited to a mummy unwrapping, only to discover the body under the wraps is no ancient Egyptian, but their absent host. There’s no shortage of possible suspects and motives, and they race to find the killer before it’s too late and an innocent accused instead.
Armstrong is one of my must-buy authors and I enjoy all her books. The plot is always twisty and entertaining, and the pacing is just right. In this book we get a little bit more growth in Mallory’s feelings for Gray. It’s obvious they’re the end game pairing, but I love when there’s a slow burn, will-they-won’t-they dynamic to the romance over several books. I don’t want them to hook up immediately, I want some denial, angst, longing. Earn the inevitable romance! Armstrong is a master of that dynamic and this book doesn’t disappoint.
We get more in the ‘will she get home’ plot as well, which is good; there’s only so long I think you can have that tension strung out before it gets old, and I think we’ve walked the line just right.
Plot is important, but as always it’s the characters that really make or break a book. I love the relationships and connection between all the characters, and I feel like they have real depth and uniqueness. They’re all fun to read, and I love Mallory as the POV character.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!...more
Nella is an apothecary living in the 1790s in London, secretly providing poisons for women who have problematic men in their lives after being cruellyNella is an apothecary living in the 1790s in London, secretly providing poisons for women who have problematic men in their lives after being cruelly treated herself. She has sworn to never harm another woman, only men. Eliza is a 12 year old girl in the same time who has just begun getting unwelcome attention from her mistress’s husband. And Caroline is an American vacationing in London in present day, having just caught her husband cheating on her. She is taking time and space to herself to reevaluate her life and relationship.
While in London, Caroline finds an old glass vial with a bear etched on it and decides to research its story and history. Her story of discovery, of both the bottle and herself, is interwoven with the tale of Nella and Eliza as they meet and form an odd friendship amidst Nella’s dangerous and forbidden occupation.
First of all: Most. Beautiful. Cover. Ever.
Some of the plot devices stretched credulity, such as how easy it ended up being for Caroline to discover the true story of this lost apothecary from one single, unlabeled glass vial. And Caroline’s attitude about some things was annoying. (She had dreams of going to college, but when she got married James didn’t want her going to Cambridge so… she just didn’t go to college. Are there no colleges in America?) The characters’ development was enough to keep me interested though, and the plot fast paced enough that I was willing to suspend my criticisms to see what happened next. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this book as either character or plot driven; it does a decent job of striking a balance between the two.
I deeply enjoy books that jump back and forth between past and present like this. It reminds me of the way Susanna Kearsley weaves different timelines into a narrative. And seeing the similarities and contrasts in women’s lives in the two periods was really enjoyable. All three women are in situations or lives where they have little to no power, and the story is about them finding ways to exert it or take it back.
The ending was… well. It did feel maybe a little too convenient. Is the lost apothecary a serial killer? Well, yes. Are we still rooting for her? Also, yes. Overall I enjoyed this book and I think it was a really solid debut novel. ...more
In The Witch's Lens, Luanne G. Smith tells a tale of mystery and magic set against the grim backdrop of World War I. We follow Petra Kurkova, a witch In The Witch's Lens, Luanne G. Smith tells a tale of mystery and magic set against the grim backdrop of World War I. We follow Petra Kurkova, a witch with the unique ability to capture the souls of the dead on film. She wanders the city with her camera at night, alone, as her husband has left to fight in the war. One night she is approached Josef Svoboda, who offers her a proposal: use her skills and talents to help her country on the front lines. There are more dangers than just enemy soldiers out there, and they are in desperate need of her skills. She reluctantly agrees, knowing that traveling to the front lines with Svoboda's band of witches may be her only way to track down her husband and discover his fate.
My rating for this book is 3 stars, which means I don't feel like I wasted my time, but I'm also not likely to remember it a year from now. The novel's premise initially caught my attention, but the execution falters. It's a very slow start, and it was difficult to maintain interest. The plot often feels ephemeral, lacking in any real development and failing to establish high stakes until late in the narrative. Petra's ability with the camera is introduced as a central element of her character but feels underutilized.
Despite these shortcomings, Smith's descriptions are vivid and really immerses the reader in the settings. The book also effectively sets the stage for a sequel, laying down threads that did leave me curious about what comes next. I'll probably pick up the second book when it comes out to see if it delivers on the tentative promise this ending offers, or if it falls flat.
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