It’s been a busy summer. I haven’t kept up very well with updates about some of what I’ve been reading. Here’s a round up of a few recent reads I enjoyed:
DARK MOON, SHALLOW SEA by David Slayton: Slayton is one of my favorite authors!! I love the Adam Binder series, but, and this sounds like a betrayal, this new series might be even better. There are gods and goddesses here, with humans vying for control and power. There is love, longing, and loss. This is an epic fantasy and I couldn’t put it down. It’s not like anything I’ve read before in the genre, which is a Slayton hallmark: original, powerful, fun, and never disappointing.
BECOMING A QUEEN by Dan Clay: Don’t let the cover and basic concept fool you on this one! Yes, there is a young queer person coming to terms with their own desires and finding out about themselves, including what they love to wear. But at its heart, this novel is a tome about grief, coping, and living through the pain – it is so beautiful in this endeavor.
THE WITCH OF MARACOOR by Gregory Maguire: I am so happy Maguire returned to the Land of Oz: this last installment of the Another Day series is intense, magical, and lovely. If you’ve liked Wicked and its associated books, you have to read these, too!
THE SHOEMAKER’S MAGICIAN by Cynthia Pelayo: Pelayo is sneaky – yeah, this is an engrossing thriller/horror novel, with a mystery and plenty of horror angst. But she sneaks in a ton of fascinating and engaging Chicago history. A master story teller once again keeps you on edge. I did NOT see one of the major plot twists coming, which made this one even better.
BLACK WINGS BEATING BY Alex London: London’s originality is unmatched, with a fascinating story that is action packed and enchanting. There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns – I can’t wait to read the next one in this series!!!
PROXY by Alex London: A dystopian thriller with a gay main character, about a world even more divided by those who have and those who, well, are controlled by them. It’s dark but action packed and hopeful. Sweet and yet haunting.
AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE by Shaun David Hutchinson: Hutchinson throws you into a world with an unreliable narrator, but one with whom you relate and grow to love. Is the universe really shrinking? And why?! Discover the truth in this coming of age speculative fiction – and learn about growing up in the process.
YOUR LONELY NIGHTS ARE OVER by Adam Sass: What would you do if a serial killer haunted your hometown? Panic! And what happens if you and your friends have to find this killer who is hunting you because the adults are off the mark? Stir in teen angst and romance, and you have a great read by Sass!
WHAT I’D RATHER NOT THINK ABOUT by Jente Posthuma: A novel of grief, change, and finding yourself; this is a deep dive into emotion, beautifully written and translated.
WHY WE FIGHT by TJ Klune: This is a fun, romantic series by Klune. It’s super funny and enchanting.
FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD by Kristen Simmons: This is a creative YA novel, where the characters endure a frightening descent into a game world. There is charm in the way they find themselves while striving to overcome friction and restore friendship.