Tag: Mystery

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 (LN)

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The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 by Natsu Hyuuga, Touco Shino
Series Name: The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel)
Genres: Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: Teen
Publisher: Square Enix
Edition: Paperback 
ISBN: 978-1-64609-272-7
Rating: 3.5/5
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Description from the Book

Maomao leads an unassuming life with her father, an apothecary, but kidnappers whisk her away to a world of consorts and serving women in the empire’s rear palace. Sold into imperial servitude, the girl keeps her quick wit, sharp mind, and medical knowledge a secret. But the head eunuch, Jinshi, shatters Maomao’s low profile when she catches his eye. He perceives her true skills and makes her a lady-in-waiting to the rear palace’s top consort. Can Maomao quietly pass her term of service as her lady’s food tester, or will observational prowess and curiosity push her into danger as she uncovers turmoil at court?

Personal & Info

I’m going into this having already read the manga and seen the first season of the anime. The manga was my first exposure to the series. The anime came second, so this is the third and final format. It’s a little ironic since this is the core material. The light novel released first, but didn’t get physical releases until recently.

After trying all three formats, I have some advice. If you want to enjoy the light novel to its fullest, read it first. If you want the best possible version, watch the anime (it’s practically a 1:1 adaptation of the light novel with improvements). The manga is good, and the art is beautiful, but they did cut some less important things and change some minor details. This is one of the rare instances in which the light novel is the worst version (in my opinion).

Content Warnings

It’s hard to warn about everything, but I think these are the most important. There are a lot of things that come up briefly to a minor degree and I’m never sure if I should list them.

-Bullying
-Child/Infant Death
-Human Trafficking
-Sexism
-Sexual Assault
-Suicide

Characters

Maomao, the main character, is a trained apothecary. She grew up in the pleasure district, in a house with her adoptive father, along with the assistance of the courtesans at the Verdigris brothel.

Jinshi, a eunuch who appears to be in charge of running the rear palace, seems to be fond of Maomao, or at least intrigued by her. He is androgynously attractive enough that he turns heads wherever he goes, but his looks have no affect on Maomao.

Xiaolan is a maidservant who works with Maomao at the start of the novel. She loves to gossip and eat sweet treats. Xiaolan is probably the closest thing to a friend Maomao has.

Gao Shun is Jinshi’s aide.

Gyokuyou, the Precious Consort, is the Emperor’s favored consort. She resides in the Jade Pavilion of the rear palace, and has four ladies-in-waiting.

Hongniang is Gyokyou’s head lady-in-waiting. The ladies that serve beneath her are Yinghua, Guiyuan, and Ailan.

Lihua, the Wise consort, resides in the Crystal Pavilion of the rear palace. She is the emperor’s second favorite consort. She has several ladies-in-waiting, but they don’t appear to be good at their jobs.

Lishu, the Virtuous consort, resides in the Diamond Pavilion of the rear palace. She is the youngest of the four highest ranking consorts at only fourteen. She has several ladies-in-waiting, but they don’t appear to be nice or good at their jobs.

Ah-Duo, the Pure Consort, resides in the Garnet Pavilion of the rear palace. She is the oldest of the four highest ranking consorts at approximately thirty-five, one year older than the emperor. She has several ladies-in-waiting and they all seem to be well trained hard workers. Ah-Duo also has the added history of being a lifelong childhood friend and confidant to the emperor.

Fengming is Ah-Duo’s humble and capable head lady-in-waiting. Her family business is bee farming.

Lihaku is a young up and coming military man.

Luomen is Maomao’s adoptive father. She often compares him to an old woman due to his personality and hobbled way of walking.

Story & Thoughts

Since I’ve already read the manga and seen the first season of the anime, I went into this knowing it would essentially be nothing new to me. However, due to how much I love the series, an additional format to try is just a bonus. There are always some differences, even if they’re small, and I did learn a few things from this version that I didn’t know before.

The story itself is essentially the same, almost identical to the anime, which is good. Already knowing everything that’s going to happen makes it easier to look for things that stand out as negatives. This might make it seem like I’m dragging the book through the mud, so I’ll say right now that the story being so consistent is grounds enough for a four out of five rating. The only reason I took away half a star is because of personal gripes.

Most of my biggest complaints come down to writing style. I get the feeling, since this started as a web novel, that the author likely isn’t that great at writing. The parts that matter are good. They have a lot of detail and paint a clear picture with words. The problems arise in the parts that seem like they aren’t as important, or feel like maybe the author doesn’t think those parts are.

Dialogue for important explanations and details in the manga and anime are often instead summarized in this version. I can’t tell you how many times the story explains something in a narrator paragraph instead of using the characters to actually portray a discussion. Sometimes they even just say that someone explained something, instead of taking the time to explain it to the reader. It feels like lazy writing and, in my opinion, it takes away from the enjoyment of the story. It breaks the immersion that the better parts of the story have.

In addition to that, there are conversations that seem stiff. You get the occasional clenching of fists or tilting of the head, but there are many times where it seems people are just standing or sitting stiffly for entire conversations. Sometimes the other adaptations add movement in these places. I think that’s an improvement.

There are also some areas that are just confusing to read. A good example of this is early on when Maomao is summoned along with other serving girls to see Jinshi. (These are pages 20-22.) Instead of singling her out just the one time, it somehow singles her out twice. The details in this particular area are extremely lacking. The first time she’s singled out gives no rhyme or reason. Did the girls who arrived before her not have freckles and therefore get dismissed? The second time is the one we all know where she reads the note. I reread this section several times to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, but it must just be poorly written.

I do think it starts to get better toward the later parts of the volume. It’s possible the first chunk might just be a rough start while the author gets comfortable with the style in which they want to write. I won’t know if that’s the case until I read more volumes.

If I had to describe the book, though, I’d say it comes across as more serious than the other versions of the story. The slow burn romance that seems obvious elsewhere seems like it might not even be there at all. It’s hard to explain, but the vibe is just a bit different, even though it’s the same story.

Overall, it’s still good. It does some things better than the other adaptations and others worse. No version is ever going to be perfect. The important thing is that I enjoyed reading it. I plan to keep reading the light novels for the time being, so even though I complain about the writing, it’s not bad enough for me to want to give up on it.

The Magician’s Lie

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The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister
Genres: Abuse, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: Adult
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Edition: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-4926-2899-6
Rating: 3.75/5
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Description from the Book

The Amazing Arden saws a man in half every night. The crowds pay good money to watch: she’s perhaps the most notorious illusionist in the country. But when one show goes terribly wrong, she finds herself in a one-room police station with a desperate officer determined to discover the truth. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless—and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie, endless night, the magician will need to pull off one final act—this time with her own life at stake.

Personal & Info

My main reason for reading this is that it’s apparently recommended for people who like Water for Elephants and The Night Circus. I like both of those, so I think it’s worth trying. After reading it, I think the recommendation is accurate. The book has similar vibes to both of those novels. It has more magic than Water for Elephants, but less than The Night Circus.

Content Warnings

-Abuse
-Animal Abuse
-Attempted Rape
-Self Harm

Characters

Ada, also known as Vivi, or the Amazing Arden, is the main character. She is a stage magician specializing in illusions. Her most notable feature is her unique eyes. They are blue, but her left eye is half brown as if cut through the middle.

Ray is Ada’s cousin by marriage. He is the son of Ada’s step father’s brother, and he is four years older than her. Ray is effectively the villain of the story.

Clyde is Ada’s first love. He is two years older than Ada and has a talent with plants.

Adelaide is the wife of a recently deceased magician who owns an entire company. She takes it upon herself to complete his obligations and step into the spotlight as a magician herself. Adelaide is also Ada’s mentor and kind of a surrogate mother.

Officer Virgil Holt is a main character in the sense that he is the police officer to whom Ada is telling her story. He is the only officer in a small Iowa town called Janesville, and he doesn’t expect to have his job much longer due to medical reasons.

Story & Thoughts

I think the most important thing to know about this book is the plot has an overarching abuse theme. Spoiler or not, it’s also important to know it has a good ending. So, while the book can be a bit dark, it’s not horribly depressing. The balance between the abuse, romance, and tension is good. No one aspect lingers too long, but they last long enough to keep the story interesting and stir the right feelings

The story covers about thirteen years of Ada’s life, from age twelve to approximately twenty-five. Suspected of murder, her life story is supposed to prove her innocence. Her tale is full of abuse, tragedy, hope, and love. Her life has been both ordinary and anything but.

Normally I don’t resonate well with historical fiction. They’re usually dull and boring. However, I think this is one of the better ones. I tag it loosely as fantasy, because Ada has real magic in a debatable sense. She can heal herself, but it’s not instant. Her injuries heal remarkably faster than the norm, which can only be explained as magic. It adds a tiny fantastical element to the book, but the story and writing themselves are good enough without it. During the long sections when her ability doesn’t come up, it still holds my interest.

I think the only reason I’m not giving this book a four is because there are a few places that montage the passing of time. Those parts are fine, but I find them less interesting. More actual magic would appeal to me more, too. None of the magic in Ada’s show is real. They emphasize many times it’s all an illusion. I like it well enough the way it is, though.

The Clockwork Three

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The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Steampunk, Urban
Intended Age Group: Middle Grade
Publisher: Scholastic
Edition: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-545-20339-5
Rating: 1.75/5
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Description from the Book

Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician who sees no way to escape from his ruthless master, until the day he finds an enchanted green violin.

Frederick is an apprentice clockmaker with a past he cannot remember, who secretly works to build the most magnificent clockwork man the world has ever seen.

Hannah is a maid in a grand hotel, whose life is one of endless drudgery, until she encounters a mystifying new guest and learns of a hidden treasure.

As mysterious circumstances bring them together, the lives of these three children soon interlock, like the turning gears of a clock, and they realize that each one holds the key to the others’ puzzles. The trios’ adventures sweep them through the winding alleyways and glittering plazas of their city, and along the way Giuseppe, Hannah, and Frederick must learn to trust in one another — and in themselves — for they risk losing the things they hold most and dear, as the dangers they face quickly become all too real.

Personal & Info

This is from a fill a basket pre-owned book sale. My only reason for grabbing it, is that it is a stand alone novel. I like to just grab some stand alone novels to try something different.

Interestingly, this book is in multiple perspectives, which consistently alternate in the same order. It’s always Giuseppe, then Frederick, and then Hannah. This is the first book I’ve seen like that, but oddly, it works.

I went into this blind. I didn’t look at the description until after I finished the whole book. It’s pretty clear that the description embellishes a bit.

The Barnes & Noble shop link only has the ebook and audiobook versions.

Content Warnings

-Child Abuse
-Death
-Guns
-Human Trafficking
-Kidnapping

Characters

Giuseppe, one of the main characters, is eleven. His parents died and he and his siblings were sent to live with his uncle, who sold him to Stephano at age five. Giuseppe is a gifted musician with a kind heart. All he wants is to go home to Italy and be reunited with his brother and sister.

Stephano is a Padrone. He kidnaps and purchases children to work for him as slave labor. All the kids work on street corners playing instruments to collect money on his behalf.

Paolo & Ezio are two of the meaner kids working for Stephano. They bully the younger kids and steal their money, which guarantees they get punished by Stephano for not bringing home their quota. Paolo and Ezio also function as enforcers, because they seem to like inflicting violence.

Pietro is a new kid working for Stephano, who was abducted from his family’s yard back in Italy. He never seems to be able to make enough money on his own to avoid punishment.

Reverend Grey is the elderly Priest of the Old Rock Church, and a good friend to Giuseppe.

Frederick, one of the main characters, is thirteen. He is an orphan apprentice clockmaker with a traumatic past that he would rather not remember. All he wants is to qualify for Journeyman with the clockmaker’s guild so he can gain more independence.

Master Isaiah Branch is Frederick’s guardian and master. He is the one who took Frederick out of the orphanage.

Hannah, one of the main characters, is twelve. Her father is not well, so she quit school to be able to work while her mother takes care of him. Hanna works at the Gilbert Hotel as a maid.

Miss Wool is a mean woman who manages the maids at the Gilbert Hotel.

Mister Hans Grunholdt is the Gilbert Hotel manager. He’s not the best person, but apparently does his job well.

Mister Twine owns the Gilbert Hotel. He is also sort of a friend of Hannah’s family. Her father used to work for him, and he gave her a job when requested.

Madame Constance Bernadette Pomeroy is a wealthy spiritualist currently residing on the top floor of the Gilbert Hotel.

Yakov is Madam Pomeroy’s bodyguard. He is a former Russian soldier with the ability to predict the future via dreams and visions. Madam Pomeroy refers to him as her golem.

Alice is the Gilberta Hotel’s gardener. As far as anyone can remember, she’s always been there, and has always been old.

Pullman is the McCauley Park warden. His family has fulfilled the job for generations.

Mister Reginald Diamond is the current owner of the Archer Museum. He doesn’t seem like a good or kind person.

Story & Thoughts

So, first things first, I chose to read this at this particular time, because various labeling claimed it is lighthearted. It is definitely not. I don’t know what peoples’ definition of lighthearted is, but all the main characters are in depressing or traumatic situations.

Giuseppe is basically enslaved. His own uncle sold him when he was only five. He works day in and day out to make money for Stephano, and he doesn’t get to keep any of it, nor does he get to eat enough to be content. It specifically says the kids only get fed enough to keep them half starved. On top of that, if the kids don’t make a daily quota, they get a beating or are thrown into the rat cellar. Giuseppe clearly states kids have died in that room.

Frederick is traumatized from his mother abandoning him at the orphanage when he was about six. The orphanage made him do dangerous slave labor working with machines. Punishment for mistakes or bad behavior was basically flogging. He had to endure this environment for four years, and now the memories haunt him.

Hanna’s father had a stroke and lost the use of his speech and legs. Her mother has to take care of him, and her sisters are too young to contribute anything to the family. Hannah had to drop out of school to work and support her whole family by herself. She’s only twelve. Part of the story involves her father’s condition worsening.

All of this is very depressing. On top of their situations, their city sounds like a huge disgusting mess. This is not the kind of book I would choose for something lighthearted.

As for the rest, the story is slow. Despite the depressing subject matter, it does have a happy ending. Well, sort of, it feels bittersweet. The kids achieve their goals, but it feels like they didn’t really have anything to do with the result. When I read a children’s book, or a book about kids, I want it to feel like the kids are the heroes, like they really did something. I don’t get that feeling from this book. It feels like the adults in their lives conveniently remedy all their problems for them. It’s like the kids show up to deal with the issue, but the adults involved swoop in and save the day.

I can’t say I liked it, but I didn’t hate it, either. The characters were enjoyable, but the story was weak. I think people who like this might also enjoy Liesl & Po. That one was also lackluster to me, but I kind of get similar vibes.

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 13

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The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 13 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao, Touco Shino
Series Name: The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
Genres: Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: Teen
Publisher: Square Enix
Edition: Paperback 
ISBN: 978-1-64609-347-2
Rating: 4.25/5
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Description from the Book

Following an uncomfortably close call with both flying bullets and Jinshi while on a hunting trip, Maomao picks up the trail of the would-be assassins with the help of Li Haku and his trusty hound. Up against Maomao’s quick wit and the dog’s sharp nose, the culprits have nowhere to hide! Having deduced the identity and the intent of the schemers, Maomao returns to the Inner Court with an unexpected discovery about Jinshi hanging over her, but there’s no avoiding her heavenly master when he has yet another mystery for her to puzzle out…

Personal & Info

With this volume, I’m now caught up with the current release. Volume fourteen won’t be available until October, so it’ll be a long wait. If I get the itch for more Apothecary Diaries, I have a few of the light novels that I can start reading.

Characters

Maomao’s time after the hunt is pretty chill. She gets to put her hair removal skills from the pleasure district to good use.

Jinshi is a bit more intense and aggressive in this volume.

Gao Shun and Ba Sen don’t get much screen time. After the hunt is over, it’s back to attending Jinshi as usual for Gao Shun.

Li Haku is only briefly in the first chapter to finish up the events regarding the hunt.

Xiaolan’s work contract expires in about six months, so she’s worried about finding a job afterward. A lowly laundry maid doesn’t have any social connections. I think Xiaolan has a good head on her shoulders when it comes to taking care of herself and thinking of the future.

Shisui is as enigmatic as ever. She’s eccentric, but helpful, and seems to be a good friend.

Seki-u is one of the three new ladies-in-waiting working for Consort Gyokuyo. She is the youngest of three sisters, who look like triplets, but are actually a year apart consecutively. Seki-u is the same age as Maomao, and she adorns her hair with a red ribbon to differentiate herself from her sisters, who wear a black or white ribbon. If everything goes well, she might be Maomao’s newest long term friend.

Consort Lishu and her head lady-in-waiting, Kanan, have a mystery for Maomao to solve in the fourth chapter.

Story & Thoughts

The first chapter wraps up the events of the hunting trip. While not action packed, some significant things happen. Most importantly, any mystery that might have been in question about Jinshi is now clear. Anyone who did not catch on sooner should now know Jinshi’s identity and rank.

After returning from the hunting trip, the volume is pretty chill. Due to where the characters live, the series can’t have a stereotypical beach episode. Instead, there’s a bathhouse episode, which focuses on ways maids and ladies-in-waiting can go about trying to make better social connections to plan for the future. This also leads into the main mystery for the volume, which involves Consort Lishu.

I think this is one of the better volumes. There’s a lot I like about it. It’s hilarious that Maomao keeps thinking about Jinshi’s “frog.” I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep that out of her mind. She definitely seems a little traumatized from that revelation. The bathhouse stuff is funny and doesn’t feel pointless.

Most notably, Jinshi’s behavior is different. Maomao is close to the truth, and Jinshi wants very much to bring her into his inner circle. She’s proven herself too useful to keep in the dark, and because of this, Jinshi is much more aggressive. The heavenly eunuch is downright intimidating and menacing in the majority of his appearances. I choose to interpret this as the story building tension, and I’m so sad the next volume is several months away. Thankfully, there isn’t a cliffhanger, but there is a strong implication of important things, that will potentially change Maomao’s life, to come.

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 12

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The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 12 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao, Touco Shino
Series Name: The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
Genres: Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: Teen
Publisher: Square Enix
Edition: Paperback 
ISBN: 978-1-64609-296-3
Rating: 3.75/5
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Description from the Book

Strong-armed into getting out more, Maomao attends a spooky soiree where court ladies share spine-tingling tales of terror as a diversion from their daily toil. While there are plenty of chills to go around, the thrills are perhaps few for the skeptical Maomao…until the evening takes an eerie turn! And she doesn’t have long to wait for more excitement! Jinshi requests Maomao’s presence on a hunting trip, and as ever, all is not as it seems when court intrigue and subterfuge are in play. When a break from a banquet on the hunt goes awry, master and servant soon find themselves in a very tight spot and uncomfortably close quarters…

Personal & Info

I haven’t been in the mood to read manga for a while, so I’ve been holding onto this volume since I bought it around release. Before reading it, I did a full one through eleven reread. I already have volume thirteen, so a review for that should be up soon, too, if not around the same time as this one.

Characters

Maomao has less opportunity to show off her passions for poison and medicine in this volume due to people dragging her around.

Yinghua and Hongniang are the only of Consort Gyokuyo’s ladies-in-waiting to appear here. We mostly see Yinghua since she participates in the events of the Ghost Stories chapter.

Gyokuyo gets a couple brief appearances in the early parts of the volume, but we don’t see her much.

Shisui, Maomao’s relatively new, bug enthusiast friend, is around for the events of the Ghost Stories chapter. We don’t see her again after that. I’ve seen it said that she works at the laundry, but I’ve also seen it said she is a lady-in-waiting, so I’m not sure which it really is. She’s probably a lady-in-waiting who handles laundry, if I had to guess.

Jinshi is one of the leading characters in this volume. After the first chapter, he takes Maomao away on a summer hunting trip that will take multiple days.

Gao Shun, who is usually Jinshi’s attendant, is not serving that role, this time. He is a guest for the hunt.

Ba Sen, Gao Shun’s son, is serving as Jinshi’s attendant in his father’s place for the duration of the hunting trip.

Li Haku is in charge of dog sitting over the course of the hunting trip.

Story & Thoughts

There are five chapters in this volume, and four of them are relevant to a hunting trip event. The trip does not come to a resolution, so it will continue in the next book. The chapter before the hunting trip is just a quick thing about ladies-in-waiting meeting up at night to tell spooky stories. There isn’t much special there, but it implies a possible real ghost to end the night with a real scare for the characters.

I think the end portion is the best part of the book. Maomao is desperate not to learn anything important that could get her into trouble later or require keeping secrets. So much so, that it leads to a comedic situation.

I think Maomao and Jinshi make some inadvertent progress in their relationship. Not in a healthy way, mind you, but Jinshi’s annoyed assertiveness will probably give Maomao something to think about. Whether she wanted to or not, she learned something she didn’t want to know. Denial won’t change that.

Thankfully, I already have the next volume, so I can continue reading to see what happens next. I’m glad Li Haku is getting some attention. It sounds like he’s steadily moving up in his career, but pairing him with a dog is adorable. Sadly, I don’t think they bothered to name the dog. If they did, they certainly didn’t mention it.

My theory about the plot for the volume is, I think Jinshi was invited on the hunting trip as his actual identity. The identity Maomao is unaware of, but has been revealed to us in a vague fashion by Lakan in another volume. It seems like nobody really knows what his actual identity looks like, since nobody ever sees him, so that would explain the face covering during the trip, and the need for an alias.

Black Ice

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Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Survival, Thriller
Intended Age Group: YA
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Edition: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7426-0
Rating: 4/5
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Description from the Book

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn’t prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin and accept the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. Things get even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that took place on that very mountain—a discovery that may make her the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy or an ally?

Personal & Info

For my first read, I went into this blind. I had read the Hush, Hush Saga, and wanted to try something else by the same author. Honestly, the description kind of spoils chunks of the drama, so I’m glad I did it that way.

At the time I’m typing this review, it’s been approximately ten years since I first read the book. This is my second time reading it. Due to various circumstances, like getting sick for two weeks, it took far longer than I would have liked to get through it. To be fair, I will be using my original rating of four out of five from my first time through. The review itself will be a combination of my original thoughts combined with any new ones.

Content Warnings

-Abuse
-Guns
-Kidnapping
-Murder
-Suicide Attempt
-Violence

Characters

I think learning about the characters naturally throughout the story is the best and least spoilery way to learn who everyone is and what they are like, especially if you don’t read the book description. Because of this, I will keep the character descriptions as vague as possible.

Britt is the main character. The story is in her perspective. She is a senior in high school, and is still hung up on her ex-boyfriend who dumped her eight months ago. Britt has an older brother (Ian) and a single father. At the start of the story, Britt is known for heavily relying on the men in her life.

Korbie is Britt’s best friend. She comes from a rich family due to her mother being a divorce lawyer and her father a CPA.

Calvin is Korbie’s older brother, and Britt’s ex-boyfriend. He is supposed to chaperone their trip to the mountains.

Mason and Shaun are two guys Britt and Korbie encounter in an isolated cabin in the wilderness.

Story & Thoughts

This is a survival kidnapping story with a murder mystery going on in the background. There’s also a focus on romance with a constant debate on whether or not it’s Stockholm syndrome, while also pining after a romanticized ex. All of the characters are far from perfect, so don’t expect them to make the wisest decisions. Everything is overall messy as far as the social interactions and decisions go, but the main characters experience significant growth.

Originally, going into this book completely in the dark, I was hooked at the beginning. I still feel that way. There’s something about the gas station scene that I absolutely love. Maybe it’s the fact a stranger flawlessly plays along with Britt’s shenanigans? I can’t really explain it, but it’s my favorite and most memorable scene in the whole book.

The writing is good. It feels like you’re right there with Britt the whole time. Becca has a way of hiding what is really important until things come together at the end. It leaves me with a smile every time i finish one of her books.

If the book ended on the last numbered chapter, I would have been so sad. I’m glad there is a one year later epilogue. It gives the story the closure it needs.

While I like the journey of the story, there are some things that bug me. The most notable that I remember is the use of the term “Subway sandwich shop.” We all know they are referring to the Subway restaurant chain, and everybody I’ve ever met just says “Subway.” I don’t know if the extra clarification is there to make sure the reader understands it was a restaurant and not a train station or what. That terminology sounds unnatural and rubs me the wrong way.

The other thing, which is very minor, is that someone left Korbie a canteen of water. I swear they said the cabin has running water. Why leave her a canteen if there is running water? I could be misremembering, but that detail bugs me.

Also, Korbie’s boyfriend is supposed to be going on this trip with them. His name is Bear, and he’s supposed to meet them at the family cabin. Nothing about him is ever mentioned after the drive up to the mountains. That feels like a bit of a loose end. I guess we’re supposed to assume he turned around and went home when the snow started.

The book is by no means perfect, but I like it. It’s one of the few non-fantasy books I actually enjoy, and that speaks volumes. It is a rare occurrence for me to read a standard fiction novel and not get bored with it.

Grand Passion

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Grand Passion by Jayne Ann Krentz
Genres: Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: Adult
Publisher: Pocket Books/ Simon & Schuster
Edition: Hardcover
ISBN: 0-671-77870-6
Rating: 2/5
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Description from the Book

Cleopatra Robbins believes she’ll know when she meets the man of her dreams, a man worth the risk of trusting and loving again. She’s imagined the moment: a jolt of emotion, butterflies in her stomach, an intoxicating feeling. She’s even described her fantasy lover—under a pseudonym, of course—in a book of erotica called The Mirror. But when drop-dead handsome Max Fortune strides into the Robbins’ Nest Inn, a devastating sensation sweeps through her. She knows it’s him. And he’s all wrong!

Exuding a ruthlessness barely disguised by his polished manner, Max is a stark contrast to casual, sneaker-clad Cleo. The driving force behind the giant Curzon Hotel chain, a man whose only passion in life—so far—has been for rare works of art, Max is looking for the inheritance left to him by his mentor, Jason Curzon. Jason had bequeathed to Max five priceless paintings, and he made Max promise to go to the Robbins’ Nest Inn to claim the pictures and “everything else with them” that are his legacy—and his secret gift—to the hard-edged young man he viewed as a son.

For openhearted Cleo, nothing is more transparent than Max’s snobbish exterior. He may drive a Jaguar, but she decides that the man is emotionally starved. Max takes one long look at Cleo Robbins and feels desire, fierce and unexpected, sweep through him…a feeling so powerful that he almost forgets his search for the paintings Cleo claims she’s never seen. With his defenses down, Max lends a hand at fixing everything from the plumbing to the fractured lives of the inn’s quirky denizens: helping Trisha, the pregnant and ever-hopeful maid, to search for her errant lover; winning the trust of Daystar and Andromeda, chefs and New Age divorcées; and easing the loneliness of fatherless little Sammy, who idolizes Max on sight.

While Cleo is tempted to confide in Max about the tragedy that led her to seek shelter with this odd surrogate family, even to choose him to make the lush sensual fantasies of The Mirror come true, she senses that he doesn’t quite trust her. Max knows she’s hiding something—and by the time he realizes it’s not the paintings, it’s almost too late to save her form the danger rising out of her past.

Personal & Info

I’m pretty sure I got this book from a second hand sale as part of a large pile of novels. It’s been hard to decide what I’m in the mood to read lately, so I chose this one at random from my shelf of stand alone stories.

Content Warnings

-Death of a parent/family member

-Death

-Guns

Characters

Max Fortune is the male main character. He is about thirty-four, going on thirty-five. Max likes to collect things, such as books and art, and he has a special eye for judging the authenticity and value of paintings. His general background is that he grew up as an orphan since approximately six-years-old.

Cleopatra Robbins is the female main character. She is about twenty-seven, and she runs a hotel that she purchased with her inheritance. Her parents both died horrifically, and she’s been building a new found family for herself ever since.

Sylvia Gordon is part of Cleo’s family residing at the inn. She usually assists with people checking in or out or just watching the counter. Sylvia is also Sammy’s mother.

Sammy Gordon is Sylvia’s five-year-old son. He carries around a rubber duck by the name Lucky Ducky, and he idolizes Max.

Andromeda and Daystar are part of Cleo’s family, and the primary chefs for Robbins’ Nest Inn. Both have been though divorces and are now members of the Cosmic Harmony Women’s Retreat, which is about a mile and a half down the road from the hotel.

Trisha Briggs is part of Cleo’s family. She works as a maid, and she’s in a relationship with Benjy Atkins.

Benjy Atkins is part of Cleo’s family. He is similar in age to Trisha at around twenty-three. He is the general handyman and plumber for Robbin’s Nest Inn.

George is part of Cleo’s family. He works as the night man for Robbin’s Nest Inn, but he is not great at his job. George is usually sleeping whenever anyone checks on him. While he is part of the staff, which makes him part of Cleo’s family, he is never included in any important discussions or activities.

Nolan Hildebrand is the part-time mayor of Harmony Cove. He is casually dating Cleo, and has his eye on a future in higher politics.

Herbert T. Valence is a motivational speaker who frequently hosts his seminars at the Robbin’s Nest Inn. He’s a rather strange and neurotic man, but supposedly his seminars are successful and his methods work.

Jason Curzon is practically part of Cleo’s found family. He was also Max’s employer, and he thought of Max as the son he never had. Before Jason died, he was in charge of running Curzon International, which is a very successful hotel chain.

Dennison Curzon is Jason’s brother. He is less business savvy than Jason, but now that Jason is dead, Dennison is running the company.

Kimberly Curzon-Winston is Max’s ex-fiancee, and Jason Curzon’s niece.

Roark Winston is Kimberly’s husband. He comes from old money and has a successful business empire of his own as well as a seat on the board of Curzon International.

Compton O’Reilly is Max’s private investigator friend.

Adrian Forrester is a local unpublished writer who despises novels with women main characters or romantic themes.

Garrison Spark is a shady art dealer, who formerly employed Max about twelve years ago.

Story & Thoughts

I have to say, this book is a bit of a let down. Compared to the majority of the other books I’ve read by this author, this one is lackluster. I knew where the paintings were the whole time, but that didn’t bother me. I don’t care if parts of a story are predictable, as long as the journey is good. The journey in this case is not great.

My main issue is the writing feels lazy. Max has the right to claim five specific paintings, because they are given to him in a will. Right. Good. But what does he not bring with him at any point? A copy of the will or any physical proof that he has any right to them aside from the words out of his mouth. What kind of successful business person…It just seems like such an idiotic oversight. He would know he should have something to prove his legitimacy.

That’s just what bugs me at the beginning. The biggest problem with the plot is how dramatic information is delivered. People, mostly Kimberly, keep showing up out of the blue, just to drop dramatic info dumps that are supposed to make Cleo gasp and reconsider her interest in Max. There has to be a better way to handle inserting this information. I honestly got sick of it. The characters had basically no real reason to be there. They might have a question for a two second conversation, but they drag it out into what’s supposed to be a, “you should know who you’re getting involved with,” scene that has nothing to do with anything going on.

One more small thing on the negative side, why would Cleo publish a book she claims is so highly personal, even if it’s anonymous, if she didn’t want people to read it? Most pen names get found out eventually, so if she thought nobody would ever know, she is incredibly naive. This is one of the more minor things that bugged me, and might just be one of her character flaws. There are more things I could list, but they’re fairly minor.

Despite the negatives, the overall story itself is not bad. It follows a similar formula to other Castle/Krentz/Quick books. Reading this still feels comforting to me, like it does whenever I read anything by this author. The characters that matter are also enjoyable and engaging. It’s an instant attraction story, so if you don’t like those, it might not be for you.

Behind the Attic Wall

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Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
Genres: Ghosts, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural
Intended Age Group: Middle Grade
Publisher: Avon/ Camelot/ Hearst Co.
Edition: Paperback
ISBN: 0-380-69843-9
Rating: 2/5
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Description from the Book

At twelve, Maggie had been thrown out of more boarding schools than she cared to remember. “Impossible to handle,” they said—nasty, mean, disobedient, rebellious, thieving—anything they could say to explain why she must be removed from the school.

Maggie was thin and pale, with shabby clothes and stringy hair, when she arrived at her new home. “It was a mistake to bring her here,” said Maggie’s great-aunts, whose huge stone house looked like another boarding school—or a prison. But they took her in anyway. After all, aside from Uncle Morris, they were Maggie’s only living relatives.

But from behind the closet door in the great and gloomy house, Maggie hears the faint whisperings, the beckoning voices. And in the forbidding house of her ancestors, Maggie finds magic…the kind that lets her, for the first time, love and be loved.

Personal & Info

This is a children’s book from 1983. I can’t remember if I got it from a pre-owned book sale or as a random grab from Goodwill. Either way, I got it as something a little different to try.

The cover is misleading. Yes, there are dolls in the story. No, Maggie is not a ghost. I have no idea why the artwork makes her look like that. Yes, there is a dog in the story, but it’s supposed to be ceramic. I have no idea why the cover portrays an actual normal looking dog.

The description is also misleading. The magic it refers to is metaphorical.

Content Warnings

-Self Harm (mild)

-Self Hate

-Anorexia

-Death

-Animated Dolls

Characters

There are a few characters I will not list here, because knowing them ahead of time would take away from the story.

Margaret Ann Turner, who goes by Maggie, is the main character. When the story begins, she is twelve, but by the end, she’s approximately fourteen. Both of her parents died in an accident, so she’s an orphan who has been passed from one living situation to another.

Great-Aunts Lillian and Harriet are Maggie’s aunts who take her in for the duration of the story. Maggie can only tell them apart by Lillian’s freckles and Harriet’s wrinkles.

Uncle Morris is Maggie’s eccentric uncle. He always says strange things and makes odd jokes that Maggie doesn’t understand. Most of his dialogue takes what anybody says extremely literal.

Edith and Clara are Maggie’s new younger sisters to whom she is telling the story.

Story & Thoughts

Behind the Attic Wall tells the story in the form of both a memory, and retelling of events to Maggie’s new little sisters. Maggie looks back on her time living in Adelphi Hills with her great-aunts. Overall, it’s pretty sad.

Maggie is a frustrated and troubled orphan who has been treated poorly, insulted, and bullied by pretty much everyone, since she lost her family. She doesn’t want any friends, or even any things from anybody. She won’t even accept the clothes her aunts provide upon her moving in.

The torment she’s endured has taken a toll on her self-confidence to the point she is starting to believe the nasty words people use to describe her. Maggie even emulates the way people treat her when playing with her imaginary friends. She imagines them as poorer than herself and dumb as rocks with the memories of goldfish, and she lords this over them to be in a position to be able to say mean things to somebody else. It’s possible she just thinks that’s how people normally interact, because of her personal experience, but she’s only been on the receiving end and clearly wants to be on the end that dishes it out.

Maggie is supposed to grow and heal throughout the story, but the whole thing is bittersweet. Her life gets better just for it to fall apart. It’s one of those simple stories about a child who has a supernatural experience and then has to move on with their life as if it never happened. It’s an unsatisfying ending that leaves a lot of questions.

The story is cute and a little silly, because the friends Maggie encounters are eccentric, but I don’t think it holds up to modern day books. I think kids of today would find it dull. Some with similar mental health struggles might relate, but I don’t think that’s enough to save it.

What I think would make the story better, would be to latch onto the mysterious aspects. Explore the lore more deeply. I certainly have questions I would like answers to after reading it, so it would be nice if the story would go more deeply into some hows and whys. However, doing so would likely change the feel of the story enough that it probably would no longer be what the author was aiming for.

When all is said and done, it was okay. I have no interest in ever reading it again, and I’m probably not going to keep it. I can’t say I would recommend it to anyone, either. It’s a product of its time and it really shows with how Maggie acts more like a six-year-old than a modern day twelve-year-old.

The Wolves of London

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The Wolves of London by Mark Morris
Series Name: Obsidian Heart
Volume Number: 1
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Time Travel, Urban
Intended Age Group: Adult
Publisher: Titan
Edition: Mass Market paperback
ISBN: 978-1781168684
Rating: 2.75/5
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Description from the Book

Alex Locke is a reformed ex-con, forced back into London’s criminal underworld for one more job. He agrees to steal a priceless artifact — a human heart carved from blackest obsidian — but when the burglary goes horribly wrong, Alex is plunged into the nightmarish world of the Wolves of London, unearthly assassins who will stop at nothing to reclaim the heart. As he races to unlock the secrets of the mysterious object, Alex must learn to wield its dark power — or be destroyed by it.

Personal & Info

This book looked and sounded spooky, so I grabbed it during a big pre-owned book sale as something to try during spooky season. I know spooky season is already over, but I extend it all the way until Christmas. I never have any Christmas or New Years themed books to read, anyway.

Obsidian Heart is a trilogy. I have no plans at this time to read more of the series. For those interested, volumes two and three are The Society of Blood, and The Wraiths of War

Content Warnings

-Self harm

-violence

-animal violence

-body horror

-kidnapping

-mutilation of children

Characters

Alex Locke is the main character. He is an ex-con who turned his life around. Alex is in his mid thirties and works as a Psychology lecturer. He has two daughters, Candice (18) and Kate (5). Candice lives with her mother (Michelle) and step-father (Glenn), while Alex is raising Kate alone.

Benny Magee is a criminal contact from Alex’s prison days. He’s essentially like a mafia boss, and he provided protection for Alex during his stay in prison. Benny also provided Alex with a number to call if he ever needed help or got into trouble.

Clover Monroe is the owner of the night club Incognito. She has connections to Benny and provides the job involving the obsidian heart in hopes of making some quick and easy cash. Clover has a good code of morals and loyalty.

Barnaby McCallum is a rich, wheelchair bound, old man presumed to be around ninety. He is the owner of the obsidian heart before Alex gets his hands on it.

Lyn is Kate’s mother. She is currently living in Darby Hall Psychiatric Hospital due to an unusual onset of insanity that occurred while she was pregnant with Kate.

Private Frank Martin is a twenty-year-old man who served in World War I. Due to various events involving the obsidian heart, Frank is alive and well in 2012 to assist Alex.

Story & Thoughts

This book has a lot going on. It is absolutely jam packed with various fantasy themes. There are people with weird powers, possible Erdrich creatures, monstrosities, time travel, and people coming back from the dead. Normally, I wouldn’t think all these different elements would fit together for a good story, but surprisingly they mix well here. It does feel like a bit too much smushed together sometimes, though.

The story itself is interesting, but I’m not fond of the writing style. I like all the details, but some of the more complex monstrosities and body horrors are hard to picture based on the description. The book also does this thing at the start of chapters. It tells you where they are and then jumps backward to tell you how they got there before continuing onward from where they presently are. I don’t like this writing method. I can get through it, but it rubs me the wrong way.

Alex isn’t very smart in regards to his actions. The story takes place in 2012. He lacks caution in choosing babysitters. Apparently he has never done a background check on the people he trusts to watch Kate. I’m pretty sure background checks were not difficult to do in 2012, so that’s just pure carelessness on his part.

It bugs me to no end early in the book when Alex is trying to figure out how to get money to help Candice. He has a matter of days based on her estimate. He goes to a contact he knows is a criminal and then gets upset when the only means provided to make enough money is illegal. Like, come on, what was he expecting? And he has the nerve to turn it down and waste everyone’s time just because it’s illegal as if there is any other way he could possibly make thousands of dollars within a few days.

I only have one or two questions about the story I have any interest in getting answers for, so I’ll likely just google those. The book is interesting enough. It’s not like anything I’ve read before, so I enjoyed the experience, but I have no interest in continuing the series.

If I already had more of the books, I would probably read more, but I don’t, and I don’t have enough interest to want to get them. Some of the plot points are how I expect, so I won’t be surprised if the answers I find are what I’m guessing. Overall, the story isn’t bad, but it’s not great, either. Based on the content, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

Of Monsters and Madness

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Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday
Series Name: Of Monsters and Madness
Volume Number: 1
Genres: Historical, Horror, Mystery, Romance
Intended Age Group: YA
Publisher: Egmont
Edition: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-60684-463-2
Rating: 2.5/5
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Description from the Book

Summoned to Philadelphia after her mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Annabel Lee hopes this new start will be her chance to make her dream of becoming a surgeon a reality.

But there are dark secrets in Annabel’s new home: whispers of strange activities, unsavory characters making deliveries in the dead of night, and a wave of murders sweeping the city. And when her father deems her interest in medicine unseemly and forbids her from practicing, she’s determined to prove him wrong.

With the help of handsome laboratory assistant Allan Poe and his unsettling cousin, Edgar, Annabel probes into her father’s research. But the links she discovers between the experiments being conducted, the stories Allan writes late into the night, and her new city’s gruesome crimes can be no coincidence. And she’ll sacrifice everything to stop them.

Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Of Monsters and Madness is a Gothic thrill for the modern age.

Personal & Info

I’m going to warn interested readers now, this book does not have an actual ending. It abruptly stops, then has a chapter that says two weeks later. That last chapter describes the premise for the second book in the duology. The second book, Of Phantoms and Fury, has no physical copy. It’s only available as an audiobook.

Characters

Annabel Lee is the main character. The story is in her first person present tense perspective. Based on the dates the book provides, Annabel is sixteen. For the last ten years, she’s been living in Siam with her mother.

Markus is Annabel’s father. He has a twisted foot that hinders his walking. His personality is not pleasant. He used to be a doctor, and he has a laboratory in the basement.

Grand-père is Annabel’s grandfather. We never get a name for him aside from how Annabel and the servants refer to him.

Allan Poe is Markus’s assistant. Everyone considers him to be a fine gentleman.

Edgar Poe is Allan’s cousin, and Markus’s assistant. Unlike Allan, he is not a gentleman, and everyone in the house avoids him.

Maddy is Annabel’s dressing maid. She is kind and apparently short.

Cook and Johanna are the house chef and chef’s assistant. They are both kind and hard working.

Mrs. Tusk is Annabel’s tutor. She is the former headmistress of Menard’s School for Girls.

Story & Thoughts

The story takes place in Philadelphia in 1826. Annabel has lived in Siam with her mother for the past ten years, until her mother fell ill and died. The book starts with Annabel arriving in Philadelphia by ship, payed for her by her father, whom she’s never met. She has been invited to live with him in his house that is completely different from her usual lifestyle.

From there, the story is rather simple. Annabel adjusts to living in a large house that has servants. She hardly ever sees her father, because he’s so busy with his work. During her free time, Annabel explores the house and discovers there are suspicious activities and secrets.

Edgar Allen Poe’s work is actually incorporated into the story. I didn’t catch on right away, because I’m not into poetry or classic literature. Some of the more common references jumped out at me and then the story started making more interesting sense.

I don’t want to say too much about anything, because it would be so easy to spoil the entire story. All I can really say is it’s definitely Edgar Allen Poe and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde smashed together, but it works. If you like one or both of those, then you might like this book. It’s just okay to me, but I’m not terribly familiar with either source material.

It bothers me that the book doesn’t have an actual ending. A more solid wrap up would probably earn it some extra points. The story also feels a little slow, because it’s the kind that builds things up until closer to the end. Nothing is very surprising, either, because knowing the inspirations for the story makes the bigger plot points obvious.