Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe / Heather Webber

 

4.25 out of 5 stars 

Halloween Bingo 2024

This book lingered on my TBR for two years and I wish I'd read it sooner. It is beautiful. (And I have a bit of a thing about healing-from-grief books.) I had added it to my list because the title and the cover enchanted me. When I plunged in and realized how many birders were involved, I felt like it was written just for me.

I have kind of a hazy understanding of magical realism. But this story, with its mysterious rare blackbirds that only appear in the mulberry trees from midnight to one a.m. and the special pies that allow the consumer to dream of the dead, helped me understand the concept. (The pie concept reminded me a lot of Jeffrey Ford's short story The Drowned Life, where drinking a shot of liquor made from deathberries allowed the drinker to visit with a departed loved one for one more time. I loved it too.)

Why is it that the American South works so well for these kind of novels? I think that's what I'll be pondering for the next while. I've read so many Southern gothic type books and it just seems to fit naturally.

“I admit I'm sad that there might not be more pies, but they've already given me the lesson I needed to learn from them.”
“What's that?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“That a person you love is never truly gone--they're always there, whether it's in a memory….or in a dream"
Or in a heart.

Read for the Magical Realism square of my Bingo card.

There Should Have Been Eight / Nalini Singh

 

3.5 out of 5 stars 

This title was so unlike anything else that I've read by Nalini Singh, it's hard to believe she wrote it! It's oh so gothic: an isolated huge country manor complete with burnt out wing and creepy family history. The insanity and suicide of Beatrice nine years before still haunting this group of close friends.

The seven friends arrive for a vacation in Darceline & Beatrice's family home, with Luna, our narrator, mourning Beatrice and believing with all her being that there should have been eight. They have Aaron's new wife Grace as their eighth member but that can never replace the missing one. But Luna has her failing vision to deal with—blindness seems to be her ultimate future, a scary proposition for a dedicated photographer. Still, Luna is the first to see a pattern when weird things start to happen to the group. Paintings defaced, accidents injuring people, drugs slipped into drinks…. And then the weather changes, bringing snow and freezing temperatures. The road is closed and mobile phones are basically useless. Will they get out alive?

The whole set-up had distinctly And Then There Were None vibes. A house full of people being struck down one by one with no access to help. Everyone getting more and more paranoid as the situation deteriorates. I will admit that I had half-assed guessed what was happening, but I only made it part way to the answer. The last several chapters were very tense, forcing me to take frequent reading breaks. I wasn't sure about Singh's thriller writing abilities, but I have been convinced. Yes, I would read another.

They Promised Me the Gun Wasn't Loaded / James Alan Gardner

 

4+ out of 5 stars 

2024 Re-Read

Since it seems that we're only going to get two stories out of the four roommates who have acquired super powers, I'm grateful that Jools/Ninety-Nine was one of them. I just love her. She's used to being the fuck-up of the four women, drinking too much, sleeping around, getting kicked off the university hockey team, flunking tests. Becoming Ninety-Nine gives her the intelligence that she longs for and the competence to do all kinds of things with it. Plus, she can summon her glowing green hockey and then “it's Hockey Night in Canada, bitches!”

It all begins as Jools returns to Waterloo after Christmas in Edmonton. She is shanghaied when the plane lands and learns of the existence of a crystalline bazooka, purported to belong to the villain Diamond. With the help of Zircon, Aria, and Dakini, the bazooka is acquired and the adventure begins. Because the Light, which creates Sparks with super powers to begin with, thrives on maximum drama. 

Of course there is a Spark named Robin Hood with his band of Merry Sparks. This is Jools' story, so you know that she will spend time in his Sherwood Lair. I'd forgotten about his role here, but it's kind of cool to have an impulse read fit obliquely into my Summer in Sherwood  project. 

We learn quickly that Jools really cares about her roomies. Her tough-girl act fools some people, but K, Miranda and Shar figure it out. I had to laugh at the end, when Jools decides that communication rings are too easily taken away by the bad guys--she's going to make them communication IUDs! Brilliant, Mr. Gardner!

Now I will moan that there's no Miranda or Shar volumes to continue on with. Tor, what kind of publisher are you? I got to meet Gardner at a conference a few years ago, and I know he had plans for them (I asked). So much disappointment! 

All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault / James Alan Gardner

 

4+ out of 5 stars 

2024 Re-read

Sometimes you've just got to read what's calling your name. I just had to return to the Dark/Spark world. Yes, it's campy and a bit silly, but in such a good way! Having grown up reading superhero comics, this hits the spot for me. Especially since Gardner has updated the idea, having four young women as the centre of attention.

I loved his balance of superhero Sparks, who are created by accident, vs, Darklings, who have paid for the privilege. As Zircon/Kim learns, ordinary people obtain super powers and most often step up to use those powers for good. Of course we all expect Evil Geniuses but in this world we also get Mad Inventors, supplying the Cape Tech with which to battle evil.

I appreciated that the setting was Canadian and that Ninety-Nine became a super hockey player. Gardner used so many Canadian clichés, which made me smile. My only disappointment is that only two books of the series were published. Seriously, Tor, what's up with that? But two books starring Kim and Jools will have to be enough (at least until Gardner chooses the self-publishing route).

Big Witch Energy / Molly Harper

 

3.25 out of 5 stars 

Book 18 of the 2024 Read Your Hoard Challenge

My first purchase from our local romance bookstore, Slow Burn Books. I was excited to read this second-chance romance, featuring Caroline Wilton, one third of the Starfall witches coven. Her old flame, Ben Hoult, has returned to Starfall to be one of the town's doctors. He leaves behind the mainland and his ex-wife. He brings his two teenage kids and his unrequited love for Caroline.

The question becomes whether Caroline can deal with her depressed father, her bitter, overworked mother, and her two useless brothers. She and her mother are struggling to keep their bar, the Wilted Rose, going. She and Ben must navigate their past history, their family dynamics, and the current situation to see if they can rekindle their relationship.

Of course there are ghosts, magic, and mysteries to be solved. Riley, Caroline and Alice have witch business to keep them scrambling, especially when Ben's kids show some aptitude for magic. Ben, being a man trained in science, flounders a bit. It becomes obvious that the Wellings family is still lurking, trying to break into the Shadow Manor to steal the magical devices hidden in it.

Harper wraps up the Caroline and Ben question, while setting up the third book, which will obviously be devoted to Alice. Her controlling and judgmental grandparents have heard that she is actually getting a life and are on their way back to Starfall to put an end to that. Alice most definitely needs a knight in shining armor and I want to see who Harper produces for her. These books are pleasant to read, but IMO lack the charm of her Jane Jameson series; however, I still need to read the next installment.

A Daughter of Fair Verona / Christina Dadd

 

4.5 out of 5 stars 

Absolutely fricking delightful! I'm so glad I picked up this mystery, which features Rosaline Montague, daughter of Romeo and Juliet Montague. Yes, you're thinking of the right people. In the first few pages, Rosie regales us with the “real" ending of the story:

Mom grabbed Dad's knife out of the sheath and stabbed herself. There was a lot of blood, and she fainted, but essentially she stabbed that gold pendant necklace her family buried her with, the knife skidded sideways, and she slashed her own chest. She still has the scar, which, when I'm rolling my eyes, she insists on showing me. What with all that blood, she fainted. When she came to, still very much alive, she crawled back up on the tomb, sobbed again over Dad's body, and got wound up for a second self-stabbing. It was at this point Dad sat up, leaned over, and vomited all over the floor. It's a well-known fact you can never trust an unfamiliar apothecary to deliver a reliable dose of poison.

If a semi-modern voice in a historical mystery disturbs you, I would recommend that you give this a chapter or two. I was captured from the first pages (and that dissonance usually drives me nuts), so I encourage open-mindedness. Rosie is an “ancient” unmarried virgin woman (age 20) who has successfully distracted three fiancés with more suitable matches. She likes living at home with her family. Until Romeo reluctantly betroths her to Duke Stephano, who is suspected of poisoning three previous spouses.

Of course, it is the day of the betrothal party that Rosie falls madly in love with Lysander, a young man who has scaled the Montague garden wall to woo her. Her reputation is saved by Prince Escalus, ruler of Verona. She will need his support again when the Duke is discovered stabbed to death in the garden. Can Rosie clear her name, salvage her reputation, and claim her One True Love?

Dodd plays skillfully with the Romeo and Juliet story. What would they be like as older adults? How would they deal with a house full of children? How would their eldest child, Rosaline, react to the uber-romantic saga of her parents' love story? By becoming ultra rational and organized, that's how! Usually, a humorous conceit like this wears thin as the book progresses, but I never tired of Dodd's approach. Her humor was right on the money, especially as Rosie completely overlooks her own attractiveness and misinterprets the actions of the men around her.

So, although Rosie is surprised by the ending, the reader is not. It is charming! I note that this is first in a series and I can hardly wait to see what this Daughter of Montague gets up to next.

Knife Skills for Beginners / Orlando Murrin

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

I’ve no clue what inspired me to put a hold on this book at the library, but for a debut novel it was pretty darn good. The author knows a thing or two about the food biz (he's been on MasterChef and has written six cookbooks) and the magazine biz (he's edited several, founded one). As an instructor I heard recently said, we are all expert in something, and it's wise to use that expertise in your fiction. So the main character, Paul, is a depressed, unemployed chef who is inveigled by a frenemy to take over a cooking school class. The frenemy, Christian, has broken his arm and the students, who are very much his fans, are disappointed to be fobbed off on Paul. Paul is unhappy because he can't seem to get a straight answer about his remuneration for the gig.

So Paul's situation is frustrating but bearable until he discovers Christian's body with a bloody meat cleaver and faints, fortunately not in the pool of blood. Because of his personal history with the deceased, he is immediately very much a person of interest to the police. Paul is exhorted by his best friend Julie (who works for a lifestyle magazine) to investigate the crime himself to avoid being railroaded. It doesn't help that he has a vindictive stalker muddying the waters.

Of course each of the students and even the cooking school owner have possible motives for wanting Christian dead. Can Paul figure it out before he gets locked up for the crime? If you like this book, I think you might also enjoy The Golden Spoon (a mystery on the set of a cooking show) or The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder (this author has expertise in antiques which is used well in her novel).

Betrayer / C.J. Cherryh

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book number 528 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

I did not mean to read this book in just one day. It was simply the book in the pile that called loudest to me this morning. Sometimes you just have to follow your mood.

Cherryh's novels rarely disappoint me. This one was just as engrossing as usual. I have a fondness for Bren Cameron, the paidhi and expert negotiator. And young Cajieri, son of the aetevi ruler Tabini, has grown on me over the last few books. Bren is still hurt from the adventures of the previous book, when the dowager Ilisidi sends him into perilous circumstances to beard a young Muradi leader in his palace. Machigi has had no contact with humans and is surrounded by enemies of various kinds. Ilisidi has taken advantage of this instability to offer him an honourable way out and sends Bren to accomplish her goal.

Cajieri is so young (eight going on nine) to be involved in political machinations, but he has been rising to the occasion. His instincts may have been thrown off by the time which he spent in space with Bren and Ilisidi, dealing with more humans than aetevi. This is the book where he feels his aetevi heritage clearly and recognizes it for the first time. His time with Ilisidi has been well spent—he is learning how to think, how to remain silent when it's advantageous, and how to control his emotions. That last is something we all strive for!

Bren has become a highly sought after person. His allies wish his help and advice; his enemies wish him as a hostage. As often happens on the aetevi home world, events quickly spiral out of control. Once again, Bren finds himself on the run with his body guards and a stray youngster. He's like that old Timex watch commercial—he takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

I spent several confused seconds at the end of this e-book trying unsuccessfully to turn the page! It turned out that the book was done although I wasn't. I think this means that I will be seeking out the 13th volume asap. It's like wanting the next episode of a tv show—I want to know what happens next!

Hawk / Steven Brust

 

3 out of 5 stars 

Book number 527 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

I need to be in a particular state of mind to enjoy Vlad Taltos. I was when I started this book, then I had to set it aside for a little, and when I had time to resume reading, the moment had passed. I was no longer in the mood for Lord Taltos' smartassery or his intricately planned deceits. Finishing the novel was a relief—I really didn't want to renew my library copy yet again.

Vlad is back in the capitol, the city where his son and ex-wife live. The Jhereg are still hunting him and he is wearing an amulet that prevents them from easily finding him. Impatient Jhereg are starting to use spontaneous attacks to try to please their bosses and Vlad is tired of it. When there are lurkers on his ex-wife's doorstep, they have stepped on his last nerve. He devises one of his usual elaborate plans to get them off his back: he will give them a way to eavesdrop on psychic communication in exchange for his freedom. It's a good thing Vlad has friends who will help him.

For once, things don't go entirely Vlad's way. I suspect that Brust is tired of the whole “avoiding assassination attempts" plotline and has planned a way to change the channel. Too many readers love Vlad Taltos to just abandon him, so steering the series in a new direction is imperative. This volume makes a start at altering the vessel's course, but I expect it will take at least one more installment to get the ship on its new bearing. I will explore that after a good, long break from the series to regain my appreciation for Brust's talents.

Love Bites / Cynthia St Aubin

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book 17 of the 2024 Read Your Hoard Challenge

When one of your favourite authors expresses a favourable opinion of another writer's book, you take notice. When my library didn't have this one and it wasn't available via interlibrary loan, I realized I was going to have to part with some cash. I now declare that it was worth every cent. Next, I must turn my attention to ordering volume two.

So, what was it that I liked? To begin with, it's my preferred genre, urban fantasy. We get to watch our main character Hanna, who is navigating a bitter divorce, get a job to support herself and her three felines. But she soon starts having doubts about her boss, Abernathy—what the heck is wrong with him? Why won't he answer simple questions? How does he run a business without a computer or a cell phone? Why is his office such a tip? What's with all the torn, muddy, ruined clothing? Something's up, but she's still looking for mundane solutions.

My second reason for enjoying this novel was the mystery aspect. It seems that any woman who interacts with Abernathy soon turns up dead. Does Hanna work for a serial killer? How can she suspect this and still desperately want to see him naked? Is it just because it's been just her and the cats for months?

Third, there's a sexy detective, Morrison, who has definite opinions about Abernathy and they're not positive. But his jeans reveal a very nice ass, which she spends entirely too much time thinking about. Apparently he has been thinking about her too.

Fourth, there's the art gallery that Abernathy owns and that she, as his assistant, is trying to organize. Plus the collection of cantankerous artists who have studios there. They are a puzzling crew, but they do seem to produce desirable art.

It's a great opening salvo for the series. I got just enough information to hook me and enough of a cliffhanger to make volume 2 a necessity. I'll be heading to my local bookstore to order Love Sucks.

Hickory Dickory Dock / Agatha Christie

 

3 out of 5 stars 

I found this Christie novel somewhat underwhelming. Usually when she used a nursery rhyme in the title, she also found a way to use it to play a significant role in the plot. Here, it isn't referenced until the 70% mark, when one of the students mutters it (with revisions).

The best part of the book, in my opinion, is getting to know Miss Felicity Lemon a bit better. Until now, we have only been told of her most satisfactory performance by Hercule Poirot, who appreciates his secretary very much. We also get to meet her widowed sister, who brings this mystery to her sister and the great detective. Mrs. Hubbard (I can only guess that this is another Mother Goose reference, she of the bare cupboard) has taken on the responsibility of running a student hostel: paying the bills, riding herd on the staff, counseling the young people who live there. She is apparently made of the same firm stuff as her sister, as she puts up with a rather hysterical building owner, Mrs. Nicoletis. Mrs. Nic, by the way, acts exactly like a Greek woman I used to work with—absolutely everything was treated as Greek tragedy with much wailing, gnashing of teeth, and declarations of woe.

Christie does her usual efficient introduction of the assortment of young people. How does she distinguish them so easily, using so few words? We get to know them rapidly and Christie gives us reasons to suspect every one of them when poor Celia is murdered. Who could want to bump off this girl who they all agree is rather dull and dim? The relationships reminded me of my time living in student residences during university. Everyone has their quirks. Some people can't even pretend to like all the others. Gossip, listening at doors, ferreting out guilty secrets, it all happens in these environs.

I found the criminal in this instance to be rather obvious, not Christie's usual standard. The other matters that muddy the waters a bit saved the book from being a complete snooze.

Sanctuary / Ilona Andrews

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book 16 of the 2024 Read Your Hoard Challenge

So, yesterday I got an email from my favourite bookstore. Your order is ready. It was 3:30 pm. I checked their hours. They are open until 5:30. It is rush hour, but I should be able to do this thing. I hop in the car and head into the rat race. I've been retired for a while and this feels weird now. I pick up my books and battle traffic on my way home. I do the necessary tasks for the evening, then settle in with Roman.

I had read a lot of this story on the Andrews' blog. I still enjoyed it very much this time around. I loved Roman's menagerie of odd critters. I enjoyed the Andrews’ version of Slavic mythology. It was great to learn about Roman's personal history. The witches and volhvs entertained me during the Kate Daniels books, so this was like a favourite treat. I remember smiling when Roman flirted with Andrea as well as when he tangled with Kate. Kate holding his staff hostage. The family fight at the big conclave (the one to deal with the magic-eliminating device).

I always suspected that Chernobog was (as Roman explains to Finn) a dark god, not an evil god. There is no life without death. That's not evil, it's just a fact. I know certain folks of the Book Devouring Horde have a thing for Roman. (I'm more of a Luther fan, myself.) But I love and adore the Kate Daniels world and I am so glad to have added this novella to my collection. I reread it this morning. I am an inveterate rereader, so I have absolutely no doubt that I will read it many times in the future. Thank you, Ilona and Gordon, for adding to a beloved series.

Rumors of Existence / Matthew A. Bille

 

3 out of 5 stars 

Book 15 of the 2024 Read Your Hoard Challenge

I have utterly forgotten where I bought this slim volume of cautious cryptozoology. It is nearly 30 years old at this point (1995) so some of the mysterious creatures referenced have been figured out (the Giant and Colossal Squids, for example).

The author takes pains to remind us how little is known about life in the ocean, especially the deep abyss. It is difficult and dangerous to access, so little time gets spent there. Additionally, the vast volume means that animals can be spread out widely. Scientists definitely have new discoveries awaiting them in the deep. Both the coelocanth and crinoids (sea lilies) were presumed extinct until living specimens were dredged up.

The large mammals that are discovered certainly dominate press coverage of such matters. Fewer people care about new species of bats, shrews, mice, or invertebrates. Birds get more attention because of enthusiastic birders who truly want to see each new one.

Bille tries very hard not to get into the weeds of lake monsters or giant apes. It's a difficult needle to thread, as that's what the general public thinks of when cryptozoology is broached. I know I have read his second book, although I don't own it. If I remember correctly, it addresses some of the more questionable critters. I would be very interested in an updated version, but I shan't hold my breath waiting for one.

All Systems Red / Martha Wells

 

4.5 out of 5 stars

As much as I love Murderbot, you know I had to try out the graphic audio version. I've read this book so many times now that I should be able to recite parts of it! I certainly know when to expect what. Somehow this recording felt shorter than the one narrated by Kevin R Free, but I checked and they are the same length.

David Cui Cui did a good job of inhabiting Murderbot. I could tell Gurathin and Ratthi apart quite easily. Ratthi had a light Scots accent, while Gurathin had a much deeper voice. It was the women's voices that I struggled with. Eventually I got Mensah sorted out and sometimes Pin-Lee, but mostly because I know a lot of the dialogue by heart, not because the voices were clearly different.

Still, it was another enjoyable visit with Murderbot and I have requested Artificial Condition: Dramatized Adaptation. These are popular, so I'm going to be waiting a while, but that's fine by me. I'll be ready when the loan is.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles / Amy Tan

 

4 out of 5 stars 

My best friend and birding buddy brought this book to my attention. She has rarely steered me astray and this book was no exception. It is exactly what it says on the tin: chronicles of Amy Tan's backyard birds. It is the nature journal of a very obsessed woman.

I admire people who keep nature journals. I have intermittently kept a personal journal but have had only a couple of abortive attempts at a birding journal. I just didn't have enough bandwidth for anything like what Ms. Tan has produced. My attempts ended up being mere lists of birds seen on a particular day or trip. Tan, being a professional writer, produces a vastly superior product.

I envy Tan's talent for drawing her backyard birds, as well as the backyard that supports her endeavors. California has much different birds and climate than Calgary. Her illustrations are beautiful and she tells us that drawing birds made sure that she really noticed their details. It was a pleasure to see her progress from the beginner state to more experienced birder. We are none of us born knowing these things, so we are familiar with the learning process. Most birders think fondly of those early years and the excitement of each new bird, what Tan calls New Bird Tachycardia.

I was dismayed by her tale of being talked down to by someone that she refers to as a Poobah. We've all run across one—someone who has forgotten what it's like to be an enthusiastic neophyte or who is insecure and needs to feel superior to others. Tan seems to shrug this off and continues her joyous bird studies. There are probably more poobahs out there who would critique her for anthropomorphism and/or for bird feeding (I've observed both). Tan is aware of her tendency to think up stories about the birds' lives, but I found her concern for them to be charming. (She says a couple of times that she's glad she's not a scientist.) She also is finicky about the cleanliness of her feeders and bird baths. If she sees a sick bird, she takes down all the feeders for cleaning until it's safe to reopen the restaurant. She admits to spending extravagantly on feed, especially mealworms. It sounds to me like she is hurting no birds and derives a great deal of pleasure from her hobby. Having spent a fair amount of cash on sunflower seeds myself, I would never criticize.

In short, Ms. Tan makes me wish for a yard where I could study my own local birds in depth every day. It has allowed her to get a feel for behaviour and for the rhythm of the seasons of which I am quite jealous. It is a beautiful book, which I recommend to those who also love their yard birds and/or journaling about their observations.