Review: The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

The Witch Roads (The Witch Roads, #1)

by Kate Elliott

Release Date: June 10, 2025

2025 Tor Books

Harcover Edition & Kindle ARC; 448 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250338617

ASIN: B0DDJCP62D

Audiobook: B0FC6QQTFS

Genre: Fiction / Fantasy

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen―once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall―is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination.

When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn’t heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn’t the same man who entered.

The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?

 

My Thoughts

The Witch Roads was a pleasant surprise, and I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it was slow at times. Yes, there were some issues with character development and plot. But honestly, not of that mattered as it was compulsively readable and I couldn't put it down. There was just something about the characters and the story that I found fascinating, and to be honest, it reminded of some of the old school fantasies I read a long time ago. In fact, once I finished I went diving into my shelves and pulled out my Steven Brust, David Gemmell, and Anne McCaffrey books because it gave me a yearning to read those again.  

 

To be fair, Kate Elliott has always been a hit or miss author for me so I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. And I am having a hard time articulating exactly why I was so invested in this book.  The plot moves along rather slowly, revealed through the characters actions and dialogues, something I really enjoyed as I am not a fan of just being shown or told what is happening, but prefer to figure things out through action and dialogue. There are definitely big secrets and big things going on, only some of which was revealed in this book and I was drawn to the mystery for sure.  And when there are ancient civilizations beings mentioned of which the current population has little knowledge, I am drawn into the story as I wonder how this will play into the story and what delicious mysteries will be revealed.  When I finished the book and looked back to what I learned, I realized how masterfully I was played and how much skill it takes to write the story in such a way to reveal a lot of information without you really knowing it, if that make sense.  It's honestly like peeling back layers of an onion and revealing layer by layer, only we are not yet at the middle of the onion. 

 

The story is told through Elen's eyes, the main character, and although she develops quite nicely as a character, there is still so much to her we don't know as the story progresses. She is plucky, is a survivor, is deeply loyal to those in her circle, and has knowledge about the world that is beyond what someone who does what she does should have. She is an enigma for sure. But I can't help but enjoy her development and her storyline.  The secondary characters are fascinating as well, and I certainly enjoyed Elen's interactions with them as that is how we learn what is going as well as the big secrets.   

 

So, why the deep dive into Anne McCaffrey's books after finishing this one? The land is slowly being destroyed by something called Spore and The Witch Roads were created by powerful beings to help protect future citizens from these dangerous spores. This is mentioned right at the beginning of the book so I am not giving away any information from the story. The whole empire is developed around protecting the empire and the people and it's very rigidly controlled with imperial factions and everything you would think of in such a world. There are ancient ruins, discussions about old civilizations, talk about different types of peoples, all of which creates a mystery that just draws you in. All of which reminds me of the Dragonriders of Pern, so there we are. 

 

Verdict

The Witch Roads was an enthralling read and I enjoyed it immensely. Yes, there were some issues with plot development and at times, it could be slow. I also felt like there was a barrier to getting to know Elen and while I empathized with her situation, I didn't feel like I really knew her all that well.  That being said though, there was something about this story that caught my attention and I couldn't put it down. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel when it releases in November. 

 

Review: Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

Runner 13

by Amy McCulloch

Release Date: July 1st, 2025

2025 Doubleday

Softcover ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593687031

ASIN:  ‎ B0DJCPKZDY

Audiobook: B0DNM2RH23

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

It’s the ultimate test of two-hundred-and-fifty miles in the brutal heat of the Sahara, with only the supplies you can carry on your back.

Adri is ready. Returning to ultra-running in the wake of a scandal, she needs to prove to herself – and her young son – that she’s a winner.

When a fellow runner is badly injured, Adri knows something isn’t right. Yet in a race this extreme, even a dead body can be explained away.

But there’s a killer stalking the hot sand. And the problem with running faster than everyone else, is that you’re miles ahead of anyone who can save you... 

 

My Thoughts

Runner 13 intrigued me because as a long-time runner I was always fascinated by the ultra-marathon distances and even thought about training and trying one, although I would have started with a 50-mile, and not even thought about a 250-mile one.  The author definitely understood runners and their determination to finish at all costs, the mental toughness running requires, as well as the pain and fatigue one experiences during a race. And to throw a murder into this mix was fascinating. 

 

The author's knowledge about running and ultra-running is definitely one of the strengths of this book. She definitely managed to captured the mental tenacity of the athlete who runs these races, the raw pain as well as the obsession that goes along with running. Although I no long run, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about and wish I could just throw on my shoes and go out. And there were days when I hated running, something the author managed to capture as well. How you can love and hate something so much, yet it grips you until it's all you can think about, everywhere you go all you think about is running in the hills, the trails, the mountains, etc... Honestly, the author captures the spirit of the endurance athlete quite uncannily well.  I felt like I was with Adrienne while she was running, feeling her pain, knowing what it feels like to hit that 'pain cave' and just push through it.  However, even if you never ran a day in your life, the descriptions are so visceral that even non-runners would be able to capture the feelings in this book.

 

The runners are isolated in a very hostile environment, the Sahara desert, with a twist the elites expected but hoped wouldn't come.  And while I enjoyed the chase through the desert, I did feel like this was the weakest part of the book even if I enjoyed how it was done, if that makes sense. The author was able to make you feel the physical pain and fear of the race as well the fear of having someone chase you while you are racing with the intent to do you harm, and this definitely upped the tension of the book.  And while I suspected who the actual culprit was very early on in the book, I did enjoy the twists and turns that led to the discovery of who it was.  So, were there sections where I rolled my eyes and just had to accept those coincidences? Yes, definitely, which is why I gave it the rating I did.  There were many themes running through this book that are worthy of further discussion: murder, suicide, obsession, injuries, drug use, ultra-running, mental health, sexual assault, and increasing support for women runners. 

 

Verdict

Runner 13 was fast, fun, and for a long-time runner, quite interesting. There were times when I was shaking my head, wondering what would entice even ultra-runners to want to run in that heat, but knowing how we are always looking for challenges, I can see how enticing it would be.  I actually became quite invested in the race itself and the descriptions of the fortitude the athletes needed to get through such a grueling event. But while I loved the descriptions of the race and the grueling physical and mental aspects of it, I did find that the story was sometimes repetitive, perhaps due to the multiple POV, and it was easy to figure out the big 'twist'.  Other than that, this was a fascinating look at ultra-running. 

 

 

 

Review: Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Death in the Cards 

by Mia P. Manansala

Release Date: May 13, 2025

2025 Delacorte Press

Ebook ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593897928

ASIN: B0DHG7HB1M

Audiobook: B0DHSRSTVN

Genre: Fiction / YA / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Danika Dizon is a natural problem-solver. Thanks to her private investigator mom and mystery author dad, she's equipped with the skills to offer guidance to anxious classmates who come to her for a tarot reading between classes. For a price, of course.

But when one of her clients vanishes shortly after they're dealt a death card, the girl’s younger sister Gaby begs Danika to figure out what went wrong. Danika takes on the case, thinking it's the perfect way to prove to her parents that she should be an official investigator in the family’s detective agency.

What starts off as a compelling challenge quickly devolves into something darker as Danika and Gaby peel back layer after layer of the secret life the missing girl has been living. A life that those involved would do anything to keep from being revealed…

 

My Thoughts

Death in the Cards was a fun mystery novel featuring a main character whose knowledge of tarot cards helps her earn money on the side, but also lands her in the middle of her first murder/mystery.  Because she aspires to be a private investigator like her mother, she is somewhat excited, if unnerved, by the behaviour of one her clients during a tarot reading, and when that client goes missing just hours later, she wants to be involved in the investigation as she felt she was responsible for what happened.

 

Danika was a character who struggled with several things in her life making her quite empathetic and realistic. She wanted to be more active in her mom's investigation business, but her mother insisted she do chores that sidelined her in the business not really understanding her mother was protecting her and trying to keep her safe for as long as possible. I enjoyed the dynamics between mother and daughter and thought it was quite realistic, with high expectations as well as strict rules and regulations regarding her comings and goings.  And while Danika was upset at some of the rules, she still followed them.  

 

The representation was another of this book strengths and I really admired the lengths to which the author included so much of the culture. Not only do we have the American-Filipino community (and the food made me salivate), but there was also Danika's struggles with her sexuality. I loved that she was so clueless when it came to her friends. She could see clues all around her, but couldn't see a hint coming from any of her friends with regards to her behaviour towards them, something that was addressed in a wonderful way in this book.  Danika was so used to giving advice through her tarot readings, but did not know how to take her own advice or open her eyes to her own behaviour.  I am really glad romance wasn't the center of this book, but what was there was quite interesting and I am curious to see where the author takes the relationships next as I think there will be another book.

 

The mystery itself was interesting, if predictable, but it wasn't what kept me reading this book.  Having a friend who uses tarot cards to guide her choices, I like how they were used in this book as a reference and to perhaps help with choices one has to make, but doesn't give clues to help solve the mystery. That was entirely on Danika and her family. I think this would have been a very different book otherwise, one I may not have liked. 

 

Verdict

Death in the Cards was enjoyable and I thought the characters were interesting and well-developed.  I did think some of the sections moved a bit slowly and were somewhat repetitive, and I did find the mystery predictable. However, the overall reading experience was fun and the ending was done in such a way that I am expecting a sequel to this book. I definitely hope so! 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

We Live Here Now

by Sarah Pinborough

Release Date: May 20, 2025

2025 Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar

Ebook & Audiobook ARC; 291 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250394057

ASIN: B0DHV5DGJT

Audiobook: B0DN25LRDS

Genre: Fiction / Horror

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking—and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night; fires extinguish; and books fall from the shelves—all of it stemming from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room.

But these things happen only when Emily is alone, so are they happening at all? She is still medically fragile. Freddie does not notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start. She, however, starts to believe the house is haunted by someone who had been murdered in it even though she can find no evidence of a wrongful death. As bizarre events pile up and her marriage starts to crumble, Emily becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about Larkin Lodge. But just as the house has secrets so do Emily and her husband.

 

My Thoughts

We Live Here Now had all the elements that would make a good story as there was a house in the woods that had a history of strange things happening within it, neighbours who made odd comments about the house, things that went bump in the night, hallucinations, secrets, and a marriage on the rocks. But when you have main characters that are just unlikeable and you can't relate to them, and a writing style that is simply way too repetitive, this destroys any tension or suspense in the book and just makes you roll your eyes.

 

First of all, I don't need to like the characters in order to enjoy a book, but I do need to understand their motives and understand why they act the way they do. These two main characters, Freddie and Emily are just not likeable as they are spiteful, narcissistic, and mean, and boy, do they hold grudges.  It just makes it so hard to care what happens to them and honestly, I was hoping one of the ravens (even they were awful) would pick them off and we would just be done with the story.  I couldn't even distinguish between the secondary characters at the moment, and I just finished this a month ago.  Unfortunately, they were just as one-dimensional as the main characters. Again, the characters don't have to be likeable, but they do need to have some depth, some personality to them, and these just...didn't.

 

The story itself was intriguing, but unfortunately it was quite repetitive and nothing really happened until the last ten percent of the book.  There were very few haunting elements, but more discussions about Emily's illness and whether she was seeing hallucinations. You can imagine where the story went from there when you have two people who live together, but don't necessarily like each other and are scheming against each other.  It really is a shame though, as the actual story was quite interesting and I would have loved to have the author really develop the concept and make it a lot more creepy and eerie than it was. It could have been so much more, if you can forgive the pun, ...haunting. 

 

Verdict

We Live Here Now just missed the mark and spent too much time focusing on things that really destroyed the tension and suspense of the story. Instead of focusing on the actual mystery, the author chose to focus on two main characters and their relationship issues which really destroyed the overall effect for me simply because the story became too repetitive and the characters were just not developed. By the time we got to something interesting, I was just trying to get this book over with and simply lost interest.  

 

Review: In Too Deep: When Canadian Punks Took Over the World by Matt Bobkin & Adam Feibel

In Too Deep: When Canadian Punks Took Over the World

by Matt Bobkin & Adam Feibel

Release Date: June 3, 2025

2025 House of Anansi Press

Ebook ARC; 344 Pages

ISBN: 978-1487012687

ASIN: B0D87H9DD2

Genre: Non-Fiction / Music

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Drawing on exclusive interviews and personal stories from nine artists of the era, In Too Deep explores how Canada became the improbable birthplace of a new age of punk icons. Covering the rowdy punk rock of Gob and Sum 41, the arena-sized ambitions of Simple Plan and Marianas Trench, the reinvention of the popstar by Avril Lavigne and Fefe Dobson, and the quest to bring hardcore into the mainstream by Billy Talent, Silverstein, and Alexisonfire, In Too Deep traces the evolution of a music scene that challenged notions of who and what should be considered punk while helping to define Millennial culture as some of their generation’s first superstars.

 

My Thoughts

In Too Deep was a blast to read, and I definitely enjoy the trip back to my teenage years listening and watching MuchMusic videos. To be honest, I have actually forgotten about some of these videos and I did spend considerable time on Youtube watching old videos of Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, Gob, and Billy Talent.  What a blast to the past that was!! But on a more serious note, this book had a great blend of the creative genius behind these bands as well as their personal lives and fight to get to the top. 

 

This book is definitely written by authors who love the punk rock scene, but also acknowledge the difficulties of Canadian artists breaking into the international market. With the chapters broken into discussions around individual artists, I appreciated the different ways the artists broke the mold and became huge hits both in Canada, the US, and internationally. There's chapters on Gob, Simple Plan, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne, Silverstein, Billy Talent, Marianas Trench, Fefe Dobson, and Alexisonfire.  I understand there are more punk rock bands in Canada and not all of them can be mentioned in this book, but I certainly enjoyed learning more about the ones that were highlighted. There were even connections made with Finger Eleven and Nickleback, and a lot of American bands were mentioned as well, such as Blink 182, but only because they were associated with the Canadian bands through tours and for other reasons. 

 

While the book focused mainly on artists who exploded during the 1990s, there were some descriptions of those artists who were also on scene during the 1970s and 1980s, and while it would be interesting to learn more about their influence, this was not the book for that. I also spent a lot of time in the bibliography and read all the footnotes as I like to read biographies of musical artists and I was looking to further my reading experience. Personally, I enjoyed those as much as the book and I was amazed to learn how much of this book came from the authors' personal interviews with the artists. 

 

Verdict

In too Deep was a fun book to read and for someone who hasn't necessarily kept up with some of the bands, it was good to learn more about them. I appreciated the research that went into this book including original and new interviews with band members and producers as well as other credible sources. Honestly, if you are a music fan in general, you should take a look at this book. Highly recommend!

 

 

 

Review: On My Honor: The Secret History of the Boy Scouts of America by Kim Christensen

On My Honor: The Secret History of The Boy Scouts of America

by Kim Christensen

Release Date: February 11, 2025

2025 Grand Central Publishing

Harcover ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1538726730

ASIN: B0D5X3BR7N

Audiobook: B0D6WLYLFM

Genre: Fiction / True Crime / History

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has been the nation’s premier youth organization, espousing self-reliance and honor. More than 100 million Americans have been Boy Scouts, from Bill Gates to Martin Luther King Jr. Today, however, Scouting faces an existential threat of its own as more than 82,000 former Scouts have filed claims alleging they were sexually abused—seven times the number of similar allegations that rocked the Catholic Church two decades ago.
 
The Scouts’ indefensible practices remained all but hidden until 2012, when Kim Christensen and his colleague published a series of explosive articles for the LA Times, blowing up a century of secrecy. Now, continuing his decades-long investigation, On My Honor untangles the full story of the Boy Scouts of America, tracking its creation, growth, influence, and the massive generational trauma it has caused. Using the iconic institution to tell a story of American values over the last century, the book grapples with America’s changing understanding of what it means to “make men.”    

 

My Thoughts

On My Honor was an interesting read, and I thought the author did a great job highlighting the growth of the organization as well as cultural context as to why it was so incredibly popular for so many years. However, there was a dark side to it, one that hid many secrets to protect itself rather than protect the people it served, and while I don't think the book quite highlights the entirety of the horror that happened or the full context of the agendas by those who tried to keep it all hidden, it does serve as a good read to get an understanding of the corruption that can happen in such a society and the steps that need to be taken to prevent this from happening in the future. 

 

The nature of the sexual crimes is very gruesome, but for me, it was definitely the unapologetic nature of the BSA that set my teeth on edge throughout the book.  Here's an interesting quote from the book that seems to sum up what the victims felt throughout the process,

 

""There's a real feeling of 'I was abused as part of a bad system,' and here I find myself in another system - a system that is set up to accommodate or look after the needs of the Boy Scouts, not the survivors,"...After the first public bankruptcy hearing, in which the judge said that the primary goal was to preserve the Boy Scouts' mission, Kennedy said his phone had exploded with calls from exasperated survivors...'Why is the judge so concerned with them and their mission?'...So again, it's this feeling among myself and [other] survivors of just 'Here we are, getting abused by another system.'"

 

What's particularly disturbing is the reluctance of the BSA to admit culpability in what happened, to admit they failed to protect the children under their care, and to be more concerned with the state of the organization itself rather than the children who were abused.  The BSA had a comprehensive list of abusers they kept secret and repeatedly mentioned how worthless the list is for the public. Holy wow! A list of abusers, their offenses, why they should be banned from the organization, and they thought it was worthless?  They kept losing lawsuits and finally declared bankruptcy to protect themselves. 

 

The author added several personal stories to his research, enough to get an idea how bad the abuse could be and included the life-long effects this abuse had on their life, their marriage, their personal relationships, some of whom committed suicide, fell into drugs and alcohol abuse, or even became abusers themselves. Reading their stories was heartbreaking. And for it to be dismissed so callously by an organization that was supposed to protect them breaks my heart. 

 

That being said, I was also not a fan of the lawyers involved in the scandal, taking advantage of the victims, looking for a huge payout themselves, charging exhorbitant fees, like sharks.  Not all the lawyers were like this, but some wanted 40% of the awards victims received. 

 

Verdict

On My Honor was an interesting read, but I am left with a bad taste in my mouth. Until the organization actually accepts responsibility for what happened and takes real steps to ensure this doesn't happen in the future, I think there will always be a black mark on their association and people will not be able to trust them.  And just to be clear, the author is not against these types of organizations; in fact, when run well they are definitely beneficial for children to be part of something like this as there are not a lot of opportunities for these kinds of activities any more. But, the BSA needs to do more than rebrand, in my opinion, they need to tear itself apart and really examine what got them into this mess in the first place so they can build on that and rebuild trust. It should not just be brushed under the rug. I tend to agree with Doug Kennedy, a former scout, when he says, "...the BSA has faced too little scrutiny for its handling of a sexual abuse problem that has devastated so many lives...'There has to be an investigation to find out who knew what, who's at fault and why didn't they do anything about it,...' I concur on that.  

 

  

 

Review: Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney

Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend

by Rebecca Romney 

Release Date: February 18, 2025

2025 S&S/Marysue Rucci Books

Softcover ARC; 455 Pages

ISBN: 978-1982190248

ASIN: B0CWNVBQPR

Audiobook: B0D7WDZCWJ

Genre: Non-Fiction / Historical / Biography / Literature / Women

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes—women writers who were erased from the Western canon—to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth—and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. 

 

My Thoughts

Jane Austen's Bookshelf was a comprehensive collection of short biographies outlining the lives and literary successes of a variety of women writers during the time period Jane Austen was flourishing, outlining the authors who may have had an impact/influence on Austen's own writing career. It's also a good investigation into why so many women writers during this time period are not as well known as Austen, how society trampled over the ambitions of these women, and how journalists and other writers downplayed the work of these writers, often attributing, erroneously, their contributions to male writers simply due to association. 

 

If you are a Jane Austen fan, then you will undoubtedly know she often made references to other women writers and their works in her books. Romney set about to discover more about these women writers, to learn more about their impact during their time periods as well as possible on Austen herself. 

 

The chapters include a variety of women, and while they contain as much biographical content to give the reader a good idea of what they suffered during their life, they also focused on their literary success, the impact it had on society, and the impact their works had on Romney's current reading and understanding of Georgian writers.  There are additional insights by Romney into the world of rare book collecting as she hunts for a variety of books that are contain information about these various authors. As a fellow bibliophile, I enjoyed Romney's search, and frustration, for these rare books as well as her discussions on their worth and what to look for in such rare books. As someone who hunts down rare books myself, I found these discussions fascinating and learned quite a bit.  

 

I thought the biographies of the women writers who influenced Austen were quite enjoyable and it made me want to dive back into the classics for a little while, something I haven't done for a few years. There are a couple of these women I have not yet read, so I appreciated the insights into their lives as well as Romney's thoughts as she read the books herself. There were moments when the descriptions did get a bit repetitive, and I felt like the author was losing the thread of her discussion and went off on a major tangent, but these were few and far between so it didn't bother me too much.   The additional insights into the publishing histories and policies, women's rights, discrimination, societal rules and restrictions, women's place in society, physical and mental abuse, suffering, and racial and gender discrimination were well thought out and made me think about the difficulties women went through to get their work published and accepted.  I did think this book would have benefited from photos about the books as that would have enhanced the descriptions. 

 

Verdict

Jane Austen's Bookshelf was an interesting read and will definitely be something that not only Austen fans will find enjoyable, but anyone who is interested in women writers during her era. One of my favourite classes at uni was a women's classic fiction course that was an elective (I was a science major), and I read some of these books for that class, but this book has made me interested in looking at some of those books again and exploring other women writers. I think this book will appeal to bibliophiles looking for more information on women writers without getting too bogged down in academic writings, and can be used as a launching pad to explore more in-depth if one wishes. For more academia minded people, I think this book will have too many descriptions about rare book collecting and other paraphernalia (such as her feelings and emotions about what she was reading) that cause it to not go in enough depth.   

 

Review: Nabukko by K.R. Gadeken

Nabukko (The Nabukko Trilogy, #1)

by K.R. Gadeken

Release Date: June 2, 2024

2024 K.R. Gadeken

Ebook Edition; 430 Pages

ISBN: 979-8990421301

ASIN: B0CZ68D35Q

Genre: Fiction / Science-Fiction

Source: Review copy from author

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Eff wakes up on a strange planet, with no memories of her past or how she got there. After months of solitary exploration, a chance encounter with a group of colonists changes everything, catapulting Eff into far more mysteries, secrets, and bizarre circumstances than she could have ever bargained for.

Can she trust these colonists? Why does she get the feeling they are hiding something? And how is she tied to their mysterious circumstances?

As tensions rise and allegiances shift, Eff must navigate the challenges of the planet, the colony, and her own fractured memories if she hopes to uncover the truth.

 

 

My Thoughts

Nabukko is the first book in an intended trilogy, and I found this to be really intriguing. I really enjoy science-fiction books that are more mystery-related rather than military (although I love those too!), and I especially love it when we have an unreliable narrator.  Eff doesn't have memories of what happened three months prior and when she learns the other colonists are suffering from a similar fate, albeit not quite as severe as she, she undertakes to discover what is happening to her and to the others.  There was a lot of mystery surrounding Nabukko and I love how the author doesn't just tell you everything, but you have to figure things out for yourself, like peeling away the layers of an onion.

 

First of all, it took me quite a while to realize how unreliable Eff was as the narrator. Once I started cluing in, I actually liked her a lot more as the tension kind of leveled up and I became invested in trying to figure out what was happening to her memories and what was happening around her. With little episodes of nightmares thrown into the mix, you start to get an eerie idea of what went down, but not all of the pieces fit at this point. Despite the fact that Eff is not always believable, I did like her character development and enjoyed her as a character. She was actually quite clever and quite uncanny, able to distinguish when someone was lying to her or withholding information.  I enjoyed the friendships she formed and thought the relationships were quite interesting. The secondary characters were quite entertaining and added a lot of depth to the story as well as some much needed comic relief. 

 

The plot is rather gripping and I didn't mind that it was a bit slow towards the beginning as the author used the time to set up characters as well as some intriguing plot points that would play a huge role later in the story. As I've mentioned, there are some pacing issues, but I didn't mind these too much as the strong world-building more than made up for the issues.  There were quite a few twists and turns, some of which were predictable, some of which caught me off guard. And I was definitely not expecting that ending!

 

Verdict

Nabukko was a very entertaining science-fiction novel with great world-building, strong character development, and some interesting twists and turns. While the pacing had some issues, I was able to overlook that by focusing on the rather intriguing mystery of why Eff was on the planet and how the colonists figured into her problem.  The secrets were revealed bit by bit and the author's style was to let the author figure things out, a style I really appreciated. I am looking forward to starting the next book soon.  

 

 

 

Review: Bochica by Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro

Bochica

by Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro

Release Date: May 13, 2025

2025 Atria/Primero Sueno Press

Ebook ARC; 256 Pages

ISBN: 978-1668062579

ASIN: B0DHV14VQJ

Audiobook: B0DLCRMMH2

Genre: Fiction / Horror / Gothic

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

In 1923 Soacha, Colombia, La Casona—an opulent mansion perched above the legendary Salto del Tequendama waterfall—was once home to Antonia and her family, who settle in despite their constant nightmares and the house’s malevolent spirit. But tragedy strikes when Antonia’s mother takes a fatal fall into El Salto and her father, consumed by grief, attempts to burn the house down with Antonia still inside.

Three years later, haunted by disturbing dreams and cryptic journal entries from her late mother, Antonia is drawn back to her childhood home when it is converted into a luxurious hotel. As Antonia confronts her fragmented memories and the dark history of the estate, she wrestles with unsettling questions she can no longer Was her mother’s death by her own hands, or was it by someone else’s?

My Thoughts

Bochica definitely had a lot going for it, but the execution fell flat for me. Despite a haunted atmosphere, creepy things that go bump in the night, secrets galore, a haunted mansion, ghosts, cryptic journals, and a mystery, nothing really happened. Nothing. I really wanted to like this one, but the whole thing fell flat, from beginning to end.

 

What I did like and appreciate were the legends and discussions about the Muisca people as I didn't really know a lot about them. Learning about the different figures that play an important role in the spiritual life of the Muisca people was fascinating, and I really wish the author had used that a bit more in the story. There was also some discussion about the impact of the Spanish colonization and how it affected the people and some of the steps they took to protect the land. However, that being said, there were also a lot of tropes being used as well to depict Indigenous peoples, some of them discombobulated and contrary to what was originally mentioned, and I did have a problem with that. If you are going to use something to be a red herring, don't use these misconceptions as that is not very impressive.  There was also a lot of discussion about women and their role in Colombian society during the 1930s and how frustrating it could be for a woman who wanted to do something different than be a wife and mother. Women's roles were very limited during this time period and I empathized with a FC who wanted to do something more with her life and felt constrained by the men around her. The idea that a woman has to become evil in order to get what she wants in society should have been discussed more in the novel as I think that was an important theme in this book.

 

Antonia herself is a strong-willed character, but she is pretty one-dimensional in nature and we don't really get to know her very well. We don't learn very much about her time in the mansion, something I thought would have been important to the story. Despite the theme of women's rights running through the book, the author chose to have Antonia in a relationship for her to get out of her situation rather than on her own merits, something I did not appreciate.  The story itself was pretty formulaic and predictable, and despite all the elements available to give one the creeps, there was actually nothing to the story.  There were many plot holes and so many things were just glossed over in such a way that the reader was supposed to just accept them. Not this reader.

 

Verdict

Bochica had a lot of potential, but more emphasis on creating a plot that the reader has to figure out rather than a reader just accepting how things are would be beneficial. I had high hopes for this book, but this definitely could have used some editing to make it more powerful.  Overall, I think this suffered from a plot full of holes, a story that had potential but essentially was more in the nature of telling you what was happening rather than letting you figure it out, and little suspense.  

 

Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto

The Thrashers

by Julie Soto

Release Date: May 6, 2025

2025 Wednesday Books

Ebook ARC; 352 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250377173

ASIN: B0CW9FRZM9

Audiobook: B0DFR9YZSV

Genre: Fiction / YA / Thriller

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High. They’re everything everyone wants to be.

Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself. But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.

 

My Thoughts

The Thrashers follows a group of five high school seniors over the course of a year as they navigate not only their senior year, but also an investigation into the death of one of their classmates, the blame being put on them and their behaviour towards not only their classmate, but for their behaviour in general. Known as ‘The Thrashers’, this ‘it’ group has a lot of power at school and is known to ‘thrash’ people with whom they no longer wish to be associated. I enjoyed this book as it was so much deeper than I anticipated at first, and although the plot was fairly predictable for the most part, the ending totally caught me by surprise.  

I think the author did a great job creating characters not only with whom I empathized, but ones that were also morally grey and quite complex. So many YA novels depend on tropy type behaviour and often use miscommunication to propel a plot forward, but the author made her characters go through some pretty complex emotional trauma, exploring a lot of topics throughout the book. While it’s been years since I’ve been in high school, I have taught it for years, so I thought the author captured a lot of the complexity of navigating high school life with characters that were definitely not perfect, had to reflect not only on their previous behaviours but also on their relationships and how they treated people, and were dealing with current crises due to some of their choices in the past. Each of the characters had their own distinct voices, and while most of the book was told from Jodi’s POV, the author did not forget about the other characters and worked hard to make them unique and well-developed as well. 

The plot itself was quite engaging and the way the mystery was wrapped up within the daily life of the main characters was interesting.  With mysterious text messages from a person unknown, to a secret diary, to incidents happening, the MCs had to lean on each other to try to figure out what was happening, but they also had to keep their distance for reasons which will become clear as you read. They were in a difficult position trying to navigate the investigation into Emily’s death as well as navigate daily high school life as a senior and the author did not hold anything back when it came to exploring themes. Suicide, date rape, trauma, depression, alcoholism, physical assault, car accidents, drug use, abuse, culpability, loss of a loved one, bullying (including cyberbullying), and consequences were all explored throughout the pages of this book, to a depth that was quite satisfying. It was not glossed over or avoided, but the author made the characters face the truth of their actions and deal with the consequences, something that made me quite happy.  

I wish the author had spent more time exploring Jodi’s behaviour with regards to Zach as that is an area I feel needed more development and was worth discussing. It sounds vague, but I don’t want to give any spoilers from the story. When you read it, you will understand. 

Verdict
The Thrashers was a fascinating look at a group of five teenagers who made poor decisions and had to face the consequences of those decisions. It definitely went a lot deeper than I had anticipated and explored a lot of themes. The ending caught me by surprise, something that surprised me considering a lot of the book was somewhat predictable, and I am really hoping there will be a sequel.  Otherwise, I definitely recommend this book if you like well-developed characters and an interesting plot. 

 

Review: The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)

by Jeneva Rose

Release Date: April 15, 2025

2025 Blackstone Publishing, Inc.

Ebook ARC (& Audiobook ARC); 288 Pages

ISBN: 979-8874620936

ASIN: B0DGYVBN3X

Audiobook: B0DHDDXQKJ

Genre: Fiction / Suspense

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

1.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

It’s been eleven years since high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against the charge of murdering his mistress. Sarah has long since moved on, starting a family with her new husband, Bob Miller, and changing careers. Her life is back to being exactly how she always wanted … or is it?

After discovering Bob engaged in a one-night stand, Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. However, amid their ugly separation, new DNA evidence is uncovered in the case against Adam, forcing the police to reopen the investigation and putting Sarah right back in the spotlight. But when the woman Bob slept with is reported missing, he and Sarah start to fight dirty, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues. 

My Thoughts

The Perfect Divorce is one of those books that I am truly glad I finished listening to and not in a good way. While I know we are not supposed to really enjoy the characters, I do have to have some empathy for them, even if they do some awful things, but these characters were written in such a way that made them so unsympathetic, bordering on just plain awful.

So, let’s talk about the characters. I can dislike a character intensely, but still find entertainment in the things they do.  A well-written character doesn’t have to be a ‘good’ character, but can have morals and values that are twisted and weird. However, with characters working in jobs where some integrity is needed, I just felt like this was pushing my boundaries when it comes to believability.  Oh, I know there are corrupt lawyers out there, that is not the issue here, it’s all of the other things they did that just bothers me to no end and then they take the high road as if everyone else is at fault and they are innocent. And as readers, we are supposed to buy into this and feel sympathy? No way. Bob and Sarah are still just as entitled as in the first book and there was no character development whatsoever.

And the plot. The implausible plot. The plot holes a mile wide. Not to mention you know exactly who did what from the first chapter. And while there were some entertaining moments, those were few and far between. Most of the time I was rolling my eyes wondering what absurdity I was going to hear next (and because I was driving through most of it, I had to be careful not to roll too much so I could still drive).  I guess just divorcing someone the old-fashioned way doesn't make a good enough story though?  We have to plot a silly, convoluted one, one that tries to have us believe a woman who does what she does actually deserves our sympathy. Embellishment and over-the-top behaviours do not make a plot twist!!! Which is why I laughed out loud when we got to the end and thought, You have got to be kidding me.

Verdict
The Perfect Divorce is time I wish I could take back. I usually DNF these, but honestly, I listened to the end because I was curious as to how embellished this would get and she didn’t didn’t disappoint in that area.  With little character development and an over-the-top plot line, I just can’t recommend this book. However, I do have to commend the narrator as he did a bang-up job. And for the record, I was not a fant of the first one either, but decided to give this one a chance. No more of these for me, though. Happy reading all!

Review: A Fatal Necessity by Marjorie Eccles

A Fatal Necessity (A Herbert Reardon Mystery, #6)

by Marjorie Eccles

Release Date: May 6, 2025

2025 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 287 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448316014

ASIN: B0DB5GDVW6

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

1935, Templewood, Worcestershire. Judge Waring’s glamorous wife Emilie is mysteriously missing and no one knows where she is – until she’s found the morning after a party at neighbouring Falquonroy Park, in a clearing in Templewood’s grounds, strangled yet neatly laid out next to two pieces of matching luggage.

What could possibly have brought Emilie to the site where the family’s new home, The Spinney, was about to be built, equipped for travelling? Was she planning to leave with someone she knew? Who was determined that she should meet such a terrible end? As Detective Chief Inspector Herbert ‘Bert’ Reardon and Sergeant Jago discover more about the enigmatic Emilie, they unravel terrible lies and devastating secrets stretching back years . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Fatal Necessity is the next book in the Herbert Reardon Mystery series, and I enjoyed this descriptive murder-mystery set in the politically tense days of the late 1930s before the world erupted in war. While set in a fairly peaceful part of Britain, events in Germany were still affecting the citizens in subtle ways, and the author blends this exceedingly well into the story.

I thought the story was very well told; the plot lines were subtle and well done. The author did a great job misleading the reader into thinking that Emilie’s disappearance was one thing, only to discover it was something completely different. As someone who taught WWII history for years, I love how the story brings a lot of the elements of the late 1930s into this book. The threat of Hitler and what was happening in Germany was certainly leaving a pall over the lives of everyone in the village, some taking completely polar sides over whom they supported causing a lot of tension and issues, including the rise of the Socialist and Communist Parties, most of which had to be secret, leading to increased tensions within households and police forces trying to tamp down secret meetings and spying.  I found the discussions around these topics fascinating and the author really had a knack for bringing it all to life. The mystery was subtly woven in between all of this tension and conflict.

Because there was so much focus on the political tension, I did feel like there was a lot of repetition and there were times I felt the story dragged. If this was simply a fiction book about this time period, I would have had a different reaction, but this was also a mystery book so I would expect the tension to be a bit higher, and it really wasn’t. And while I liked the ending, there was little to no suspense.  And I had to go back to my notes to remind myself what actually happened as it was not memorable so that says something to me when it comes to tension and excitement.

Reardon and Jago were interesting characters and I really liked how they were developed, especially Jago who was new to this book.  I liked him so much, in fact, that I hope he will appear in future books as I feel like there is so much more to develop with his character. And while the other characters were quirky and each had distinct voices, they were much more one-dimensional in nature and all blended together.

Verdict
A Fatal Necessity had a good story, and I did enjoy it overall. The author has a subtle story-telling method which I appreciate as it is not about throwing in useless red herrings and also allows the reader to discover things as they go. However, I did feel like you can go too far and forget that mystery novels also need to have that suspense and tension in them to make the reader turn the page, and I thought this one was lacking that element, concentrating more on the historical details.  However, there is still a lot to recommend in this book and if you enjoy historical mysteries, this one may be for you.

 

Review: The Floating World by Axie Oh

The Floating World (The Floating World, #1)

by Axie Oh

Release Date: April 29, 2025

2025 Felwel & Friends

Ebook ARC; 368 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250853080

ASIN: B0D7TF344S

Audiobook: B0DGVQDXBP

Genre: Fiction / Fantasy / YA / Mythology

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. 

 

Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. 

 

Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...

 

My Thoughts

The Floating World was a fascinating blend of Korean mythology, adventure, celestial magic, and found family. The world-building was really good as the author didn't waste time info dumping, but threw you into the world and you figured things out and learned with the characters, something that I love. But the author is quite skilled at weaving the fantasy world into the story so you have no trouble keeping up with the story even if you aren't quite sure how everything fits together at the moment. 

 

The story is told in multi POV, but it all flows seamlessly.  This type of storytelling can be confusing, but when done right, works very well, and this was done right. The author did a great job of revealing just the right bit of information to continue the plot, but not so much that you stopped guessing as to what may happen.  The worldbuilding is a bit strange at first, and it reminds me somewhat of Jeff Wheeler's Harbinger world, a world where there is a city in the sky and one below and that is what I kept picturing as I read this at first. However, the author's descriptive writing soon made this one her own and it definitely stood on its own after a while. The themes floating through this book were interesting, everything from found family to generational trauma to genetic manipulation to loyalty. Grief was also at the center of this story. I personally would have liked a bit more on the political side as that is my interest, and I found that part of this story a bit lacking. It didn't take away from the overall enjoyment, but because of this, I found the last quarter of the book to be rushed as the political factions started taking over with the development in that area being a bit smudgy, if you know what I mean.

 

The two main characters were somewhat well developed, but I did enjoy their journeys, both physical and mental, throughout the story. Both Ren and Sunho were suffering from loss of family and identity crisis, and I love how subtly this played into their relationship.  Their romance was quite slow and took a while to build, something I appreciated as I am not a fan of insta-love, and it really wasn't a main part of the story, just something that happened so I wouldn't necessarily call this book a romance by any stretch.  A lot of it was about Sunho and him learning who he really was as he searched for his brother and reclaimed his memories. I could understand his frustration at not knowing how he developed the strength and abilities he has, but also his fear as to how he will react when he finally learns the truth as he understood that could be worse.   

Verdict

The Floating World was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The worldbuilding and plot were well developed, even if I found the last quarter to be somewhat rushed and lacking in the political explanations. The characters were unique and interesting, but I am hoping a couple of the secondary characters will be more developed in the sequel as they were just as interesting as Ren and Sunho. Overall, while I did feel this was somewhat predictable and not necessarily unique (as mentioned, Jeff Wheeler's Harbinger series also has this dual world), I did think it was fun and I enjoyed it quite a bit as it was refreshing and easy to follow. It could be that I just needed something lighter at the moment, and this fit the bill exactly.

 

Review: Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris

Who Will Remember (Sebastian St. Cyr, #20)

by C.S. Harris

Release Date: April 15, 2025

2025 Berkley

Ebook ARC; 365 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593639214

ASIN: B0D9J3XYFK

Audiobook: B0DLYXS992

Genre: Fiction / Historical Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

August 1816. England is in the grip of what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. His brutal murder shocks the Palace and panics the already troubled populace.
At first, everyone in the dead man’s orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But as Sebastian delves deeper into his life, he quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies and that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.

 

My Thoughts

Who Will Remember is the latest book in the long-running Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, and one of the reasons I return to this series every year is the detailed research by the author. I am always able to immerse myself in the time period because the descriptions are so vivid and the author manages to really make it come alive in my mind. However, I did think this series has started to feel a bit repetitive and formulaic, and for me at least, it was easy to figure out who were the culprits.

 

I don't really read these for character development at this point although I do feel like the relationship between Sebastian and Hero has gotten a little flat. It's not a negative thing as the fire and brimstone of courtship is often put aside in domestic bliss, but I would think a little more spark should be felt between them there was. By book twenty however, many of the secrets have been revealed and the story focuses more on the secrets of the secondary characters, some of whom I am glad to see returned in this book.  

One of the reasons I return to this series though, are the descriptions of Regency England as they are so well done.  Even with a history background, I love learning tidbits that I didn't know and enjoy following the characters as they go about their day-to-day activities. As I've already mention however, the books are starting to feel the same, and it wasn't hard to figure out the ending. And I read expecting the usual fight scene as it happens to Sebastian as least once per book, and the author did not disappoint.  So, the plot felt similar and repetitive. I did however, enjoy the scenes where Hero interviewed the soldiers even if it didn't really go anywhere, at least yet.

 

Verdict

Who Will Remember had an intriguing mystery and I did enjoy it for the most part. And while the research is impeccable, this one failed to keep up the tension and I was slightly bored as I read so it was difficult to keep going at times. While you don't necessarily have to start at the beginning of the series, there is definitely a lot of character entanglements that will make more sense if you do and the mysteries are quite engaging. I will keep reading this series, but I don't think this was one of the best. 

 

Review: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

The Amalfi Curse

by Sarah Penner

Release Date: April 29, 2025

2025 Park Row

Ebook ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-0778308003

ASIN: B0DGLJCW8P

Audiobook: B0K438DPL

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Magical Realism / Contemporary

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. 

 

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

 

My Thoughts

The Amalfi Curse definitely had a lot going for it: the setting was amazing and I could just picture myself looking at the blue waters the author was describing and eating the food; the historical fantasy was very well-researched and worked rather well; the connection to the water and the impact it had on people's daily lives was amazing; and, the themes of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, passion, trust, and miscommunication were all on display.  So, why the rating? Personally, I felt like the character development was somewhat lacking, I wasn't a fan of the romantic relationships, and I thought the whole story line revolving around one person's mother didn't quite ring true.  

The character development was the weakest point of the book for me overall. Reading Haven's story line almost put me to sleep as there was basically no story. You would think a story about a marine archaeologist on a treasure hunt would be rather interesting. No dice. Her treasure chasing amounted to very little time on the water and chasing some guy named Enzo. And being at odds with some friends of her father's who pulled some dirty tricks on her that weren't even believable.  Her character was supposed to be this independent women who had fought to get where she was, but I didn't see that at all.

Now Mari is another tale indeed as I thought her story line was rather interesting. She was a fighter, one who did what needed to be done, and I thoroughly loved her story line.  Her story is gritty, believable, made me empathize with her situation, and I was rooting for her the whole time.  The magic system that Mari could wield was rather intriguing, but like a lot of things in this book, the setup was there, but the author forgot to light the match.  Which was disappointing as I really enjoyed this story line much more than Haven's. That being said, I did like the conclusion to this one.

 

The plot itself was sort of meandering, especially when it came to Haven's story. I did like the research she did to find out more as that was interesting, but the actual plot was kind of a letdown. I thought there would be more action, more diving, more fun stuff to hunt down, but we got a meandering plot that really went...nowhere. And the whole thing revolving around Enzo's mother made me raise my eyebrows a time or two.  It just wasn't believable.

 

Verdict

The Amalfi Curse had a beautiful setting and atmosphere and I will give kudos for making me want to get on a plane and go to Italy again right now. There were definitely some moments that really stood out, but they were mostly in Mari's story line, one that I really preferred over Haven's. I did think the overall plot was predictable and meandered quite a bit, in particular Haven's story line. If you like historical fiction with a touch of magical realism that is light, then this might be the book for you.  For me, it just didn't work.