Recent Reviews

	Spear	Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen and a Magician and some knights and a sword in a stone and a round table and ….. you know how this tale goes. Except now you don’t because this time it’s a little bit (lots) different. Where do I begin with how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book? Nicola Griffith has taken myths and tales so well known yet made them feel new but steeped in history at the same time. Characters are beautifully created and developed in a world of hills and trees and lakes, of towns and villages, of knights and tavern keepers. And at its heart is Peretur, on a journey to find herself and her destiny. And you’ll find yourself falling in love with her just as the other characters do. In this fantastical queer retelling of the Arthurian legends, Griffith has written a book that will pull you in and bind you to it, writing a story that is new, yet as old as time. Recommended by Hannah
	Sisters of the Forsaken Stars	In this sequel to the Sisters of the Vast Black we rejoin the sisters of the Order of Saint Rita as they face the difficult task of deciding on their next step following earlier events. Having witnessed pain and destruction beyond what they thought possible they are forced to choose between speaking out about what they know, with all the risks that entails, or staying silent, knowing that to do so could lead to war and death. Along the way we see the sisters battle with their personal choices and roles as faces and voices from the past return to haunt them. The second book in this series continues the brilliant work of its predecessor. Strong character development and world building within the vastness of space sit alongside discussions of faith and relationships, all told in such a way that you will find it impossible to put the book down until you turn the last page. And then you’ll be desperate for the next book! Recommended by Hannah
	Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know	Samira Ahmed’s Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know not only reclaims its title from the man it famously described—Lord Byron—but it also reclaims history by allowing a woman famously depicted in art and literature to finally tell her own story. French-Desi-American Khayyam is a non-hijabi Muslim girl. She longs to become an art historian, but a major misstep in a recent essay may have blown her chances. During her family’s annual trip to Paris, she wants to uncover something that will redeem her, earning her a spot at her dream art school back home in Chicago. Meanwhile, her boyfriend—not that he’d call himself that—isn’t responding to her texts, and a chance encounter with a cute Frenchman might help her in more ways than one. Between Khayyam’s research and troubles with love, readers hear from another young Muslim woman—Leila, the voiceless woman from Byron’s poem "The Giaour" and the Delacroix series it inspired. Khayyam’s and Leila’s stories are reflected in one another, and readers will delight as each is uncovered. From Byron to Delacroix to Dumas, readers take a tour of art history across mediums in this unique, feminist, multicultural book with lessons both ancient and modern. Recommended by Mary
	The Candy House	Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House recaptures the magic of its “sister novel” A Visit from the Goon Squad. At the beginning of the book, tech prodigy Bix Bouton invents a way for people to upload their entire consciousness to the cloud, creating a new frontier in social media. From there, Egan takes us on an impossible-to-summarize ride through a memorable web of characters, many of whom fans of Goon Squad will be happy to see again. Once again connecting lives in surprising ways through virtuosic linked stories, Egan asks big questions about privacy, tech, and how our lives overlap. Recommended by Danny
	Devil House	John Darnielle’s novel Devil House turns true-crime inside out. (Fictional)(or is he?) author Gage Chandler follows a lead to Milpitas, California where an apparently satanic murder occured at an abandoned porn store in the 1980s. Chandler, in fact, buys the building to live in as he tries to puzzle through the crime. What he finds will challenge everything he thinks he knows about crime writing. Told variously through fictional excerpts, evidence, medieval texts (really), and more, Devil House is an ambitious page-turner from a writer who’s just as gifted with a novel as he is with a song. Recommended by Danny
	Jawbone	Jawbone is an outrageously innovative novel of literary horror which weaves together classic literature, pop culture, and creepypastas with a running stitch of hyphens and a sprinkle of Ferrante. This is a book about fear and horror—this is a book about mothers and daughters. We follow panic-ridden Clara, a young teacher obsessed with becoming her dead mother, as she encounters Annelise and Fernanda, the sapphic leaders of a pack of teen girls who take over an abandoned building to make a game of worshiping a horrifying White God of their own invention. Mónica Ojeda traps readers between her teeth with never-before-dared depictions of ugliness and taboo, and Sarah Booker’s translator’s note is incredibly insightful—don’t skip it. Recommended by Mary
	Anatomy: A Love Story	This one goes out to all the ladies who get a thrill from the fascinating science of the human body. A noble girl in 1800s Scotland dreams of becoming a surgeon, a feat neither possible nor permissible in her world unless she makes it so. Brilliant Hazel studies in secret using the only bodies she can get her hands on—dead ones dug up by a resurrection man who happens to make her insides flutter. Murder, mystery, romance, science—what more could you ask for? Even if you don’t often read YA—it’s just. so. good. I cannot wait to read more from debut author Dana Schwartz! Recommended by Mary
	Blood Feast	This complete collection of short stories from the late Malika Moustadraf features poor and working-class Moroccans who are sometimes redeemable and sometimes not. These clever stories are about sexuality and gender norms, traditions and contradictions, the absence of choice, and all of them are properly short, to readers’ delight. Contemplative and even jocular, Blood Feast is a window into a niche Arab culture. Recommended by Mary
	Such a Pretty Smile	Sit down. Shut up. And smile. If you don’t, the monsters will destroy you. Strong women have long fought against the expectations and violence of a male-dominated society that tells them they must be docile in order to survive. In this suspenseful feminist horror novel, the threat is very real, and women’s choices seem to be to die or to give in - and die spiritually. The few who fight back and survive live in fear, but find strength in each other. DeMeester brings to horrifying life the violent beast of misogyny in this nightmare-worthy book. Recommended by Nancy
	One True Loves	Despite graduating high school with honors and accolades, Lenore has never felt good enough in her parents’ eyes. They expect the epitome of Black excellence, but multitalented Lenore can’t even decide on a college major, let alone a lifelong career. When her family embarks on a summer Mediterranean cruise, Lenore’s parents expect a decision by the end of the trip. And just when she’d given up on love altogether, a beautiful boy catches her eye. This book will make you laugh, cry, and question whether you’re doing what makes you happy, all in the very best way. Elise Bryant’s second story of Black love is a dreamy 10 out of 10! Recommended by Mary