Wrapped

Seventeen-year-old Agnes Wilkins is invited to a mummy unwrapping at the house of the dashing Lord Showalter just days before her official debut into Society.  Agnes is dubious about the process of unwrapping mummies - it seems rather disrespectful and a bit ghoulish.  But when Lord Showalter singles her out to unwrap the mummy in question, right in front of everyone at his elegant party, Agnes feels pressured to comply with his wishes.  When she ends up with an artifact, unnoticed by the rest of the guests, she hides it rather than be the unwelcome center of everyone's attention once again.  After all, it can't be very important, as it has no jewels or anything.  But when a series of robberies occurs in the wake of the party, Agnes realizes that the little metal dog she has might be more than it seems.  She teams up with Caedmon, an infuriating but handsome young man from the British Museum, and together they discover a plot that is as far reaching as it is dangerous.

This is a fun Victorian romp with mystery, romance, suspense, and a dash of humor to spice things up.  While the novel appears to be targeted toward teenagers, I think that it's perfectly suitable for younger readers as well.  I particularly enjoyed Agnes's relationship with her father, which reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Bennett's relationship with her father.  That resemblance may not be an accident, as Agnes is utterly obsessed with Jane Austen (to whom she refers as "A Lady," the pseudonym Austen used at the time).  While I found the ease with which Agnes goes haring off on her own at night to spend time alone with Caedmon in the British Museum, risking ruining her reputation, to be a bit unbelievable, I did appreciate her independence of mind.  Teens who enjoyed the Theodosia books when they were younger will be sure to enjoy reading about Agnes' adventures, as will fans of period romances and historical mysteries.

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury; narrated by Elissa Steele (Listening Library, 2011)

Succubus on Top

I started this series last year and enjoyed the first one enough to continue with this second book.  Our heroine is a succubus, as the title suggests, and while she would appear to be working for the dark side, she has quite a few redeeming qualities.  In fact, one aspect of this series that I'm enjoying is the shades of gray, rather than the blanket, superficial good-vs-evil plot line that is more usual in these kinds of books.  Not that there isn't a good-vs-evil plot here, but it's a bit more thoughtful than that.

In this second installment, independent-bookstore clerk (succubi need day jobs, too) Georgina notices that one of her coworkers is behaving oddly.  At first she chalks it up to the general weirdness of young mortal men, but soon it becomes clear that he is caught in a self-destructive spiral, along with the members of his suddenly successful band.  The more Georgina looks into the matter, the more she suspects there is a supernatural reason for the situation.  At the same time, her life has become complicated by her relationship with Seth, the shy but devastatingly handsome author she met in the first book.  Because she is a succubus, she runs the risk of draining his life force, so she cannot act on her feelings for him.  But why do those feelings have to be so strong?

This is a fun supernatural mystery, one of my favorite genres, with interesting characters and a nice mixture of the ongoing personal lives of the characters and the supernatural mystery at hand.  I am always skeptical about starting a new series in this genre, but with this second book, I'm officially in.

Books in the Georgina Kincaid series:
1. Succubus Blues
2. Succubus on Top (aka Succubus Nights)
3. Succubus Dreams
4. Succubus Heat
5. Succubus Shadows
6. Succubus Revealed

Succubus on Top (#2 in the Georgina Kincaid series) by Richelle Mead (Kensington Books 2008)

Aliens on Vacation

I couldn't resist this book once I'd heard the premise: Scrub (aka Dave) is forced to visit his eccentric grandmother in Washington, only to discover that she runs a secret intergalactic hotel, and her guests are aliens looking for a primitive, backwater world as a vacation spot. His grandmother needs some help around the hotel - it's a tough place to run all by herself, but secrecy must be maintained, or the intergalactic B&B organization will shut her down. Scrub is happy to help - it's a fascinating place, after all, but trying to keep things secret is incredibly difficult. There's the town sheriff, who is suspicious and hostile, and a very pretty, very nice girl who is way too interested in aliens for Scrub's peace of mind.

This is a funny, sweet story that should appeal to both boys and girls.  Scrub is an easy kid to like, and he tells the story in an accessible, entertaining way.  I did have some trouble suspending my disbelief throughout the course of the book, but I doubt most young readers will share my reservations.  The story is exciting and suspenseful and dishes out a few fun surprises.  I'm not sure I feel the need to continue with this series myself, but I will certainly be recommending it to young readers at my library.

Books in the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series:
1. Aliens on Vacation
2. Aliens on a Rampage


Aliens on Vacation (#1 in the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series) by Clete Barrett Smith; narrated by Joshua Swanson (Brilliance Audio, 2011)

The Wild Ways

I absolutely fell in love with the first book in the Enchantment Emporium series, with the unforgettable Gale family and their scary but funny aunties who bake charms into their food, the magical shop with mysterious items on its shelves, and the quirky cast of characters who often had me giggling as I read.  So imagine my delight when I discovered the sequel!  I had been hoping, but as the first book ended with a satisfying conclusion, I wasn't too certain if one would be forthcoming.

This second one certainly did not disappoint.  I felt the usual resistance to switching point-of-view characters - this one features Allie's musical cousin, Charlie Gale, instead of Allie herself - but I was quickly drawn into the story and found myself enjoying Charlie's company as much as, if not more than, her cousin's. Charlie is a rolling stone, a musician who travels with various bands and stops by to visit family from time to time. Her magic is a wild power, but somehow her life has settled into something a bit less than wild.

But then she finds herself playing for a Celtic band at a festival that just happens to be near a contentious potential off-shore drilling site that is also a breeding area for seals - or what appear to be seals. She also finds herself babysitting an adolescent shape-changing dragon with a penchant for mayhem.  Nefarious schemes involving enchantments and seal skins ensue, in an action-packed, twisting, turning tale that will keep readers guessing all the way to the end.  The relationships among the characters make these books shine, and as with all good fantasy novels, the themes resonate on a more serious level that extends well below the surface of a fun magical romp.  Fans of Charles de Lint and Nina Kiriki Hoffman will be sure to love this series.  Here's hoping for another sequel.  Not to be greedy or anything.  But I'd sure love some more!

Books in the Enchantment Emporium series:
1. The Enchantment Emporium
2. The Wild Ways

The Wild Ways (#2 in the Enchantment Emporium series) by Tanya Huff (Daw Books, 2011)

Barrayar

Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga is at the top of my list of very favorite series.  I tend to prefer fantasy over science fiction, although I love them both, because too often (for my personal taste) science fiction novels tend to go off the deep-end with world building and indigestible lumps of exposition regarding the future at the expense of character development and forward momentum.  Bujold's books, however, are never guilty of that sin, and her characters are so complex and dynamic, and the plots so well constructed and surprising that I am committed from the very first pages of every book she writes.  And she writes beautifully.

I have already read every book in the Vorkosigan Saga, but I've been having a delightful time listening to the audio versions as read by Grover Gardner. Barrayar is actually the second book in the series, and the last one to feature Cordelia Naismith as its main character.  The subsequent books focus on her son Miles, one of my all-time favorite fictional characters.

Cordelia has married a man from a different planet, a (to her mind) backward, conservative, violent place full of closed minds, sexism, and seething political intrigue.  Her husband has been appointed regent, as the Emperor is too young to rule, and many of the noble houses are vying to oust the regency and rule in their own right.  Despite the fact that all Cordelia wants is to have a safe place for her new family, she gets thrown into the middle of the upheaval, in a society where appearances are often deceiving.  Luckily she is clever and politically savvy, taking nothing at face value.  Even so, it is impossible to stop every political maneuver, and events soon take a deadly turn...

It is always a joy to return to Barrayar and spend some time with characters I've come to adore over the years.  There is action and adventure, and a close look at the darker side of human nature, but also humor and brilliant world building as well as characterization.  Even if you think you don't like science fiction, you should give this series a try.  It is best to start at the beginning, but readers often begin with the third book, The Warrior's Apprentice, which is the first novel to feature Miles as the main character.  I hope to listen to more books in this series during the coming year.  Even with all the new books that are on my list to read, it is so worth it to take some time to revisit this series.  The books are that good.

Books in the Vorkosigan Saga:
1. Shards of Honor
2. Barrayar
3. The Warrior's Apprentice
4. The Vor Game
5. Cetaganda
6. Ethan of Athos (almost a spin-off) 
7. Brothers in Arms
8. Borders of Infinity
9. Mirror Dance
10. Memory
11. Komarr
12. A Civil Campaign
13. Diplomatic Immunity
14. Cryoburn

Barrayar (#2 in the Vorkosigan Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold; narrated by Grover Gardner (Blackstone Audio, 2009)

Chime

Seventeen-year-old Briony Larkin knows she's a witch - her stepmother told her so, and she knows that because of this, it is her fault that her twin sister is, well, the way she is, and that a flood nearly destroyed their house, and that she is also responsible for her stepmother's death.  She can communicate with the Old Ones who live in the swamp, and if anyone in the village finds out, Briony will be hanged as a witch.  She can feel the rope around her neck every time she thinks of it.

As the story unfolds, the reader becomes aware that there is more to the tale than meets the eye, and as bits and pieces of the past are skillfully woven into the narrative of the present, the startling and disturbing truth of the situation is gradually revealed.

What a wonderful book this was!  I originally picked up the audio book when I learned Chime had been nominated for a National Book Award, and then I found out that this audio version won the Audiofile Earphones Award - and it certainly deserves it.  Susan Duerden's narration is delightful; it fits the evocative and atmospheric tale just perfectly, and the rich language and sensory details of the narration make me remember the book as though I've seen the film version. It is that vivid.  Unforgettable characters, powerful supernatural elements, disturbingly creepy villains, a swoon-worthy romantic hero, and a complexly woven, moving tale make this one of my favorite books of 2011.

Chime by Franny Billingsley;  narrated by Susan Duerden (Listening Library, 2011)

Witches Abroad

Every time I sit down to review a novel by Terry Pratchett, I find myself a bit stymied, wondering how I can possibly do justice to the book. It's difficult because the books are so clever and funny; they are sometimes are parodies of various literary works; they're full of jokes, ridiculous puns and slapstick humor.  But they are so much more than that.  The characters are complex and delightful, not two-dimensional caricatures; the plots are surprising and intricate, and the themes are anything but superficial. The novels are smart and dense and light and funny, and often moving, too - and how on earth he pulls it off so well, I have no idea. To me, each book is a gift, and I always feel so fortunate and grateful every time I open one.

This twelfth installment in the Discworld series opens with the death of Desiderata, fairy godmother. She has not taken the time to train a replacement, but she has chosen her successor, a young and relatively inexperienced witch named Magrat Garlick. Just before her death, Desiderata sends her magic wand to the very surprised Magrat, along with instructions for her first fairy-godmothering mission. There is a dark situation brewing in a foreign land, and before she quite realizes what is happening, Magrat finds herself traveling to distant Genua in the company of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg.  It quickly becomes clear to Magrat that the older witches don't have much confidence in her abilities, particularly when the only thing she can get the magic wand to do is turn things into pumpkins.

The narrative follows the adventures that take place during the witches' unforgettable, action-packed road trip, and culminates in Genua, where Desiderata's nemesis has been hard at work shaping the city to her own ends.  It is a funny and delightful novel, but as always there are more serious things being examined here, too.  There is the idea of the power of narrative and how it shapes our lives - in good ways and in bad, depending on how much power we give the stories in our lives.  It takes a look at the influence of archetypal symbols from folktales and fairy tales, and the way our expectations allow us to simply accept certain things without thinking because it's easier than paying attention and accepting the responsibility to act.  It examines free will, and the results of imposing our will upon others, or of taking away someone's will, even for the best of motives. These more serious aspects of the book are, as always, handled humorously and with more subtlety than you might expect, and the added depth of this thoughtful side of the book makes the funny, punny side that much more enjoyable.

I loved spending time with the witches, and the audio version of this had me laughing out loud, as always.  I encouraged my 11-year-old and 13-year-old daughters to listen to this one, too, because they are enormous fans of the Tiffany Aching Discworld books (the few books in the series that are written with younger readers in mind but are enormously appealing to adults as well).  While I'm sure some of the humor flew straight over their heads, they loved getting more Granny Weatherwax and certainly could identify with Magrat's situation.  They enjoyed this one just as much as I did, and I certainly wasn't surprised.

Books in the Discworld series:

1. The Color of Magic
2. The Light Fantastic
3. Equal Rites
4. Mort 
5. Sourcery
6. Wyrd Sisters
7. Pyramids 
8. Guards, Guards
9. Eric
10. Moving Pictures
11. Reaper Man
12. Witches Abroad
13. Small Gods
14. Lords and Ladies
15. Men at Arms
16. Soul Music
17. Interesting Times
18. Maskerade
19. Feet of Clay
20. Hogfather
21. Jingo
22. The Last Continent
23. Carpe Jugulum
24. The Fifth Elephant
25. The Truth
26. The Thief of Time
27. The Last Hero
28. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

29. Nightwatch

30. The Wee Free Men
31. Monstrous Regiment
32. A Hat Full of Sky
33. Going Postal

34. Thud

35. Wintersmith
36. Making Money

37. Unseen Academicals

38. I Shall Wear Midnight

39. Snuff

Witches Abroad (#12 in the Discworld series) by Terry Pratchett; narrated by Nigel Planer (Isis Publishing, 1996)

Also reviewed at:
A Book a Week:  "I love the witches. My inclination is always to say that my favourite Discworld character is the one with whom I've most recently spent time, but the truth of the matter is that Granny Weatherwax tops them all."
Somewhere I Have Never Traveled: "I started off not in the right mood and so was unsure if the book was going to work for me, but by the time I finished the book, it was exactly what I needed. Silly and smart and playful and pun-y and joke after joke after joke."
The Wertzone: "Pratchett's grasp of character, humour and pacing is as expertly-handled as ever. The characters of the three witches continue to expand and be explored in greater depth..."

All Men of Genius

In this steampunk novel inspired by Twelfth Night and The Importance of Being Earnest, Violet disguises herself as a man (using her twin brother's clothing and advice) in order to attend the prestigious Illyria College, a place where mechanical geniuses create amazing marvels.  She is brilliant and talented, and she just knows if she can be accepted as a student, she will have to tools to create such wonderful things, she will prove once and for all that women should have a place there as well.

It is difficult disguising her sex, particularly when she discovers that the Duke of Illyria, the headmaster, is a very attractive man indeed.  When his daughter is smitten by Violet, believing her to be a dashing yet sensitive gentleman, the fun begins.  The plot thickens, narrated through alternating viewpoints, and involves mysterious creatures and rooms in the vast basement of the college, killer robots, blackmail, diabolical plots, schemes of revenge, and all the other usual college antics.

This was a lot of fun - I enjoyed the characters and the parallels with Twelfth Night.  It did stretch my sense of disbelief to the utter breaking point several times - the ease with which characters manage to put together remarkable inventions, for example - even characters with little to no experience - was a bit over the top.  I also found that the build-up of tension for the evil Mal Voglio's plan to far outweigh the actual execution of it, which was a bit disappointing.  But really, it was a very enjoyable read, and its a great introduction to the steampunk genre for those who are interested in giving it a try.  This appears to be Rosen's first published novel, and I will be interested to see the direction he takes from here.  He clearly had a whole lot of fun writing this book, and that made it a lot of fun to read.

To hear Lev discuss his book, and how and why he used Twelfth Night as inspiration for the novel, check out this post from The Mad Hatter's blog.

All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen (Tom Doherty Associates, 2011)

Also reviewed at:
Fantasy Book Critic:  "All Men of Genius succeeds because it hits the right balance in both style and content, while it charms you from the first page in accepting the over-the-top happenings that could easily transform the novel into pure farce."
In Which Our Hero:  "All Men of Genius is far from essential reading, but if you've always thought that what Twelfth Night really needed was some killer robots, this will make you very happy indeed."
Sci-Fi Fan Letter:  "As a steampunk novel there's a lot of experimentation going on, but very little scientific explanation, so those who want a more hard SF feel should look elsewhere, while those wishing for a book to ease someone into genre should think of this as the perfect gift."

The Sandman: Brief Lives

It's been quite a while since I read a book in the Sandman series, but even so, I was sucked right back into the surreal world of Dream, Death, Delirium and their other Endless siblings.  I tend to eke out the series I love as much as possible because I'm always sad when they end, and there is no more discovery, just rereading.  There's a fine line that I tend to walk with my favorite series, between letting things go for too long so that the story threads grow misty in my memory, and reading through too quickly to really savor each one.

As usual, I advise anyone who is interested in this complex, fascinating series that runs that gamut from fantasy to horror, to read the first book first (which collects the individual comics that were first published), Preludes & Nocturnes. Start with that one and read the rest of the series in order or risk being lost and confused. Don't say I didn't warn you.

This seventh volume (only three to go!  Sigh.) focuses on Delirium, an Endless that hasn't had a whole lot of screen time so far.  She is a fascinating character: fickle, sweet, immoral, enthusiastic, confused - very much the embodiment of delirium.  Learning about her earlier incarnation imbued the story with a sense of loss that was always present as the plot unfolded.  At any rate, one of the Endless, Destruction, abdicated his role years earlier, and has effectively disappeared.  He was Delirium's favorite, and she misses him dreadfully - so dreadfully that she's going through a self-destructive downward spiral.  She turns to Dream for help in finding him, and their journey to discover the whereabouts of their missing brother becomes a metaphoric journey that ties together many previous plot strands and elements touched upon in earlier books.

The artwork is among my favorite in the series so far (there are many artists who have done illustrations for the various stories, but the writing is all by Gaiman), and it skillfully evokes the bizarre, surreal feeling of the story that's being told.  I enjoyed the more cohesive feeling of this installment, as well as the way the story reveals so many new things about the various characters, things that make events from previous stories much clearer.  I continue to enjoy the creative and surprising storytelling of Sandman, and I look forward to continuing the series - but not too soon.  I'll be so sorry when it's over!

Books in the Sandman series:

1. Preludes & Nocturnes (collects The Sandman #1-8)

2. The Doll's House (collects The Sandman #9-16)
3. Dream Country (collects The Sandman #17-20)
4. Season of Mists (collects The Sandman #21-28)
5. A Game of You (collects The Sandman #32-37)
6. Fables and Reflections (collects The Sandman #29- 1, #38-40, #50, Sandman Special #1 and Vertigo Preview #1)
7. Brief Lives (collects The Sandman #41-49)
8. World's End (collects The Sandman #51- 56)

9. The Kindly Ones (collects The Sandman #57-69)
10. The Wake (collects The Sandman #70-75)

Brief Lives (#7 in the Sandman series) by Neil Gaiman (Vertigo, 1994)

Also reviewed at:
Bibliofreak Blog:  "Wow. This volume of The Sandman is so full of awesomeness. It has got to be my favorite of the series so far."
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist:  "In the past, I have complained that the plotlines are often all over the place, without any sort of continuity, that many of the stories appear to be vignettes that have little or nothing to do with one another. Yet the great thing about this story arc is that it does tie a lot of what seemed to be loose ends together."
Stella Matutina:  "It’s a culmination; the point at which everything that happened in the last six volumes, every little way that Dream changed, every small hint, comes together."

A Red Herring Without Mustard

This historical mystery series, set in England in the 1950s, is at the top of my list of favorite whodunits.  The mystery element of each book is intricate and fascinating, yes, but it is the characters, in particular the 11-year-old chemistry genius, Flavia de Luce, that have me hooked. 


The protagonist may be a child, but these books are very much for adults, and there is a certain darkness to the stories that can be very disturbing indeed.  However, that darkness is brightened by the humor of the books, much of which comes from Flavia's delightful narration.  I listened to the audio version of the first book of the series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and Jayne Entwistle's reading lent itself so perfectly to the telling of the story that this has become one of those series that I listen to exclusively because reading it on my own just wouldn't measure up. 


This story begins with Flavia visiting a gypsy fortune teller, and old woman who tells Flavia things about her dead mother that she couldn't possibly know.  A chain of events follows that involves a fire, a decades-old kidnapping of a little baby, a brutal assault, the discovery of a dead body, and a bizarre religious sect.  Flavia's curiosity takes her to some unusual places, and during her investigation she uncovers some interesting things about her own family's past.


Flavia is a lonely child, and it would be heartbreaking that her closest friend appears to be Gladys, her bicycle, if it weren't for the fact that she manages, despite the utter dysfunctionality of her family situation, to lead a stimulating and very interesting life.  It was fun to see her having to relate with a younger person, someone nearly her own age (who is not an odious, backstabbing sister) - Flavia is good at manipulating the adults in her life, for the most part, but a peer?  That is unexplored territory for her.  Once again it was a delight to spend time in Flavia's company as she intrepidly follows the course of the investigation, and I look forward to many more installments in this outstanding mystery series.


Books in the Flavia de Luce series:
1. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
2. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
3. A Red Herring without Mustard
4. I Am Half Sick of Shadows  
 A Red Herring Without Mustard (#3 in the Flavia de Luce mystery series) by Alan Bradley; narrated by Jayne Entwistle (Books on Tape, 2011)


Also reviewed at:
Becky's Book Reviews: "I am still loving the writing, the characterization, the descriptions, the pacing. There are just so many things to love!"
Savidge Reads: "Some people might say that these are cosy crime novels and yet I think in every one of Alan Bradley’s novels so far there is a real darkness, along with a certain camp, that make them so addictive."
Stainless Steel Droppings:  "I don’t often read mysteries, but the Flavia novels have become must-reads and are numbered among the more special books in my collection."