“Missing Dead Girls” by Sara Walters (ARC Review)

February 28, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Walters, Sara. Missing Dead Girls. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Fire, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-1728234137 | $10.99 USD | 256 pages | YA Thriller

Blurb

– A sapphic psychological, fast-paced thriller –

What is friendship without a few secrets?

It wasn’t Tillie’s choice to leave Philadelphia. But after everything that happened junior year, her mom insisted the quiet suburb of Willow Creek was the perfect place to get a fresh start, to put the trauma and rumors behind them.

Madison Frank is the perfect distraction. Beautiful, fun, and from the wealthy side of town, Madison is the kind of girl who has a pull stronger than gravity. She commands attention, even inspires obsession. And by the end of summer, Tillie’s forgotten everything—everyone—she left in Philadelphia. Almost.

Then Madison goes missing. A photo of her bloody body is texted to the whole student body…from an account with Tillie’s name on it. Tillie’s caught in a tangled web of secrets that will destroy her if they surface…and will destroy everyone she loves if they don’t.

“Claustrophobic and intriguing… a novel that will keep you hooked all the way.”—The Nerd Daily on The Violent Season

Pick up Missing Dead Girls if you’re looking for:

A sapphic psychological, fast-paced thriller
A suspenseful read with strong emotion
Fiction examining friendship
A coming of age story with a twist

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Missing Dead Girls is the epitome of what I expect when I pick up a psychological thriller: messed up characters (but make them sapphic!), deadly secrets, and a bucketload of twists and turns. It takes the common high school tropes, like dysfunctional friendships with mean girls, and turns the dial up to 11 with delightful fashion.

Tillie is a somewhat unreliable narrator, but she’s nonetheless sympathetic, as she has been through a lot, even if her entire history isn’t exactly clear right away. As the narrative continues, we learn more about her, her past, and how that informs the toxic, codependent dynamic she has formed with the popular Madison, who has some secrets of her own.

This book is simultaneously a slow burn, yet it’s also on the shorter side. There’s a lot of setup of the dynamic between Tillie and Madison, with the last third being where the big bombshells really come into play. And even the end leaves things somewhat ambiguous, which works, given how untrustworthy these characters have been up to this point, and there not being a real satisfactory form of closure for them.

This is an exciting, nail-biting read, and one I’d recommend if you’re looking for a sapphic take on the young adult thriller genre.

Author Bio

Sara Walters works as advocate for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in central Pennsylvania. Previously, she worked as a reproductive rights advocate and a college instructor. She earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of South Florida and studied children’s and young adult literature while earming her doctorate in education at the University of Tennessee. She belieces in the power of storytelling as a voice for survivors and aims to gives space to stories too often silenced.

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“Solomon’s Crown” by Natasha Siegel (ARC Review)

February 26, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Siegel, Natasha. Solomon’s Crown. New York: Dell, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-0593597842 | $17.00 USD | 352 pages | Historical Fiction/Romance

Blurb

Two destined rivals fall desperately in love—but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

“I will always want you. Enemy or ally, I always shall.”

Twelfth-century Europe. Newly crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. But when his greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it can even begin, Philip is forced to make a precarious alliance with Henry’s volatile son—risking both his throne, and his heart.

Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, never thought he would be king. But when an unexpected tragedy makes him heir to England’s royal seat, he finally has an opportunity to overthrow the father he despises. At first, Philip is a useful tool in his quest for vengeance . . . until passion and politics collide, and Richard begins to question whether the crown is worth the cost.

When Philip and Richard find themselves staring down an impending war, they must choose between their desire for each other and their grand ambitions. Will their love prevail if it calls to them from across the battlefield? Teeming with royal intrigue and betrayal, this epic romance reimagines two real-life kings ensnared by an impossible choice: Follow their hearts, or earn their place in history.

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Solomon’s Crown has a great premise, exploring the rumors around Richard the Lionheart and Philip II of France’s alleged relationship, elevating it into an epic romance amid the dramatic medieval politics and family feuds. I didn’t know a ton about many of the historical figures involved prior to picking up the book, aside from some of the backstory with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII, and Henry II, but that was enough for me to grasp what was going on. And I imagine, given how Natasha Siegel openly admits to playing fast-and-loose with historical record, the less you know about the specifics, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the ride, as was the case for me.

Richard and Philip are both compelling characters, and I enjoyed exploring the complex politics between them and among their families from their perspectives. The issues of their parents are still in recent memory, and they’re also dealing with both personal and interpersonal issues within their own families: Richard has sided with his imprisoned mother against his father, and Philip has recently taken the throne after his father’s death.

Despite the conflicts that surround them and the doubts they have about their relationship, I love that Philip and Richard’s relationship is ultimately affirming and super sweet. It’s a slow burn, and not without its bumps in the road, but I love that it’s truly a romance, in spite of what you’d expect, given the people involved and the time period concerned.

This is such a beautiful book, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in alternate historical fiction.

Author Bio4

Natasha Siegel is a writer of historical fiction. She was born and raised in London, where she grew up in a Danish-Jewish family surrounded by stories. When she’s not writing, she spends her time getting lost in archives, chasing after her lurcher, and drinking entirely too much tea.

Her debut novel, Solomon’s Crown, will be releasing with Bantam Dell March 2023, with a second book to come Spring 2024.

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“A Dark and Hollow Star” (Hollow Star Saga #1) by Ashley Shuttleworth (Review)

February 26, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Shuttleworth, Ashley. A Dark and Hollow Star. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-1534453685 | $13.99 USD | 528 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans.

Choose your player.

The “ironborn” half-fae outcast of her royal fae family.
A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge.
A dutiful fae prince, determined to earn his place on the throne.
The prince’s brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret.

For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courts—until a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world.

Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. The only question is: which way?

Wish them luck. They’re going to need it.

Review

4 stars

I’ve had A Dark and Hollow Star on my TBR for a while, and finally picked it up. Initially, the length scared me, but picking it up on a fairly boring day was a good choice, as I ended up flying through it.

Urban fantasy is still very hit-or-miss for me, but this one was very much a hit. The world building here is a lot of fun, combining a very vivid exploration of modern Toronto with creatures from folklore and legend, like fae and furies. There’s a great exploration of the different Fae courts, and the magic is really distinct and unique.

I was also initially unsure about having four protagonists, but that worked as well. Arlo and Nausicaä are the two more prominent characters, and I liked getting to know them, including following them as they developed a bit of an unlikely romantic relationship. Arlo is a relatable main character who’s been through a lot, and while she’s not my favorite, I can understand where she’s coming from. Nausicaä in particular really won me over, as she’s the epitome of a prickly love interest and a Fury at that, but in a way that is incredibly endearing. Vehan and Aurelian aren’t as developed, but they do have a purpose in the story, and are pure sweetness and light, while the girls are more complicated.

One of the biggest draws for me was the murder plot…I don’t think I’ve seen another book about Fae that also had them investigating murders?! I ended up being fairly satisfied in this regard, as while there is a lot of setup for what’s likely going to be the overall series arc, there’s a lot of intrigue and a few compelling plot threads that kept me engaged, even if the book was a tad busy at times.

This is a solid series starter, and I’m excited for what’s coming next! I recommend this to anyone who likes fae stories, but has also been looking for more queer rep.

Author Bio

Ashley Shuttleworth is a young adult fantasy author with a degree in English literature and a slight obsession with The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy. They currently live in Ontario, Canada, with their cat named Zack and a growing collection of cosplay swords.

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“A Million to One” by Adiba Jaigirdar (Review)

February 25, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Jaigirdar, Adiba. A Million to One. New York: HarperTeen, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-0062916327 | $17.99 USD | 362 pages | YA Historical Fiction

Blurb

Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in a heist for a treasure aboard the infamous ship that sank in the Atlantic many years ago.

A thief. An artist. A acrobat. An actress. While Josefa, Emilie, Hinnah, and Violet seemingly don’t have anything in common, they’re united in one goal: stealing the Rubaiyat, a jewel-encrusted book aboard the RMS Titanic that just might be the golden ticket to solving their problems.

But careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance threaten to jeopardize everything they’ve worked for and put them in incredible danger when tragedy strikes. While the odds of pulling off the heist are slim, the odds of survival are even slimmer . . .

Perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Girl in the Blue Coat, this high-seas heist from the author of The Henna Wars is an immersive story that makes readers forget one important detail— the ship sinks.

Review

4 stars

When I saw that Adiba Jaigirdar was working on a sapphic heist novel set on the Titanic, I knew I had to read it. A Million to One ultimately ended up being exactly what I expected and more, delivering on the fun heist vibes, while simultaneously honoring some aspects of the tragedy that aren’t as well known.

While the Irish presence is subtly remarked upon in some of the dominant narratives about the Titanic, I like that this book made it one of its central focuses, along with highlighting some of the racial diversity. This isn’t the first book I’ve read to highlight these things, but the more people talk about them or write stories inspired by them, the more people will be inspired to look into these people and past the more dominant stories of well-known passengers, who have already had their stories told.

The heist element, while initially seeming a bit unlikely, also highlights the real treasures that were on board that ended up lost in the wreckage. While it is fictionalized, the Rubaiyat was a real priceless artifact, and I enjoyed learning a bit about it.

With the strong heist focus for the majority of the book, and then the intensity of the sinking, there’s a strong plot focus. In terms of characters, as a result, the focus is on the group and how they work as a unit, as opposed to defining each of them as individuals. So, if you’re a character driven reader, this likely won’t work for you. However, while I can’t say any of these characters stood out to me, the stakes were high, and the outcome was sad for what it meant for their friendship.

This book is a lot of fun, and I hope Adiba Jaigirdar writes more books in a similar vein. If you’re a fan of the Titanic or heist stories where the heist is actually prominent, I recommend checking this out!

Author Bio

Adiba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, and A Million to One. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies from the University of Kent, England and a BA in English and History from UCD, Ireland. She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection. She can be found at https://adibajaigirdar.com/ or @adiba_j on Twitter and @dibs_j on Instagram.

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“The Foxglove King” (The Nightshade Kingdom #1) by Hannah Whitten (ARC Review)

February 25, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Whitten, Hannah. The Foxglove King. New York: Orbit, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-0316434997 | $29.00 USD | 480 pages | Fantasy

Blurb

In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Hannah Whitten’s debut duology, and eagerly anticipated whatever she would release next. The Foxglove King is somewhat of a different story: still heavily romantic, but also full of court intrigue, and intriguing lore that goes a lot deeper than her previous work. I loved how the story delved into critique of organized religion and had these deep theological themes as a part of the world in its history and baked into the magic. It gives a sense of relevance to our modern world, even if there is still a fantastical bent to it.

Lore makes for an intriguing character to follow, given her past of having escaped from a cult, and currently working as a poison runner. She strikes a good balance of being strong, yet vulnerable, and she’s mostly pretty sympathetic. And while this story does have a love triangle, I mostly liked both of them, and I appreciate how both Bastian and Gabe are fleshed out and there’s no clear preference for one over the other. Bastian is more my type personally, as he’s pretty chill, but Gabe has his good points too.

Given the length and that it is the first book in a trilogy, it does take a little time for the story to get off the ground. However, within the first half or so, it does pick up and I was more consistently engaged from that point on.

This is a solid start to a new series, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a romance-heavy fantasy.

Author Bio

Hannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and sometime in high school, figured out that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in an old farmhouse in Tennessee with her husband, children, two cats, a dog, and probably some ghosts.

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“The Lost English Girl” by Julia Kelly (ARC Review)

February 24, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Kelly, Julia. The Lost English Girl. New York: Gallery Books, 2023.

ISBN-13:978-1982171704 | $28.99 USD | 416 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

The acclaimed author of the “sweeping and beautifully written novel” (Woman’s World) The Light Over London weaves an epic saga of love, motherhood, and betrayal set against World War II.

Liverpool, 1935: Raised in a strict Catholic family, Viv Byrne knows what’s expected of her: marry a Catholic man from her working-class neighborhood and have his children. However, when she finds herself pregnant after a fling with Joshua Levinson, a Jewish man with dreams of becoming a famous Jazz musician, Viv knows that a swift wedding is the only answer. Her only solace is that marrying Joshua will mean escaping her strict mother’s scrutiny. But when Joshua makes a life-changing choice on their wedding day, Viv is forced once again into the arms of her disapproving family.

Five years later and on the eve of World War II, Viv is faced with the impossible choice to evacuate her young daughter, Maggie, to the countryside estate of the affluent Thompson family. In New York City, Joshua gives up his failing musical career to serve in the Royal Air Force, fight for his country, and try to piece together his feelings about the family, wife, and daughter he left behind at nineteen. However, tragedy strikes when Viv learns that the countryside safe haven she sent her daughter to wasn’t immune from the horrors of war. It is only years later, with Joshua’s help, that Viv learns the secrets of their shared past and what it will take to put a family back together again.

Telling the harrowing story of England’s many evacuated children, bestselling author Julia Kelly’s The Lost English Girl explores how one simple choice can change the course of a life, and what we are willing to forgive to find a way back to the ones we love and thought lost.

Review

4.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Lost English Girl is another wonderful book from Julia Kelly, cementing her further as a possible new favorite in spite of an initial bad first impression. She takes on some issues I knew a bit about, and brings them to life, giving me more understanding and even emotion for what the real people who experienced these things went through.

The book is split, more or less, into two parts: part one where the central couple, Viv and Joshua, are forced into marriage due to pregnancy as a result of their youthful indiscretions, and part two where they’ve been parted for some time, and their daughter Maggie is also parted from them, due to the evacuation of children during the Blitz. I appreciated the dramatic choice to start with the tense circumstances of a shotgun wedding between people from different faiths, instead of their romantic interlude, and while I don’t agree with how the flashbacks to said interlude were incorporated anticlimactically, it set the tone that it was mostly a marriage of convenience, and romance wasn’t the point.

A major overarching plotline is Viv coming into her own, as in spite of being married, she remains dependent on her parents for almost everything. I loved seeing her coming into her own, especially as she became aware of how they were holding her back from truly having a good life with Maggie on her own terms.

I was anxious about how the marriage would be handled, given despite Julia Kelly impressing me since, I’m still not over my first betrayal. However, I ended up liking how it turned out. It’s not a genre romance by any means, but the overall relationship arc and the ending felt satisfying nonetheless. The book emphasizes how young and impulsive both Viv and Joshua were, and reflects on how they’ve changed. Joshua made some selfish choices, and Viv doesn’t fully forgive him, but they are ultimately able to come together and form a strong, if unconventional family unit for Maggie.

The second part of the book is focused on the evacuation of children to the country during the early part of World War II (including the Blitz), something I knew a bit about from my background reading about CS Lewis and Narnia. However, this book was the first time I was faced with what should have been obvious to me: the separation of parents and children, even for the children’s safety, was often traumatic for the children. And while what happens to Maggie is highly dramatized, I love how Kelly worked in the real stories of the complex feelings children like Maggie had being away from home with virtual strangers, in varying types of home environments, and being expected to adjust…then after many months, being recalled home and expected to reacquaint oneself with one’s family and old home.

This is a beautiful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys World War II-set historical fiction.

Author Bio

ulia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical mystery novels about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.

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“A Sinister Revenge” (Veronica Speedwell #8) by Deanna Raybourn (ARC Review)

February 23, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Raybourn, Deanna. A Sinister Revenge. New York: Berkley, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-0593545928 | $28.00 USD | 320 pages | Historical Mystery

Blurb

Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.

Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.

As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.

In the series

#1 A Curious Beginning

#2 A Perilous Undertaking

#3 A Treacherous Curse

#4 A Dangerous Collaboration

#5 A Murderous Relation

#6 An Unexpected Peril

#7 An Impossible Impostor

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

A Sinister Revenge picks up with Veronica and Stoker after a rather emotionally tense ending for their relationship. I was nervous about how it would be resolved, and whether it would result in a bit too much angst, an issue I struggled with in an earlier installment. However, while things are tense between them, I didn’t feel their relationship had taken too much of a step back, especially as the core of their personalities, with Veronica’s headstrong nature and Stoker’s protectiveness, remain key parts of their dynamic.

Stoker’s brother, Tiberius, makes up the third member of their party, and the mystery is connected to him and his associates. The strongest books for me always involve a connection of either Veronica’s or Stoker’s, so Tiberius is a welcome addition.

The case itself is intriguing, with Tiberius and some of his friends being implicated in a murder from years ago, and now two of these friends also having died in mysterious circumstances. The big reunion party makes for a unique setting for Veronica and Stoker to investigate, with things taking a predictably dire turn. The plot this time around is intricate, and kept me guessing until the final reveal.

This is another engaging installment in the Veronica Speedwell series, and I continue to be excited for the next! If you enjoy historical mysteries with a slow-burning romance subplot, I recommend checking this series out!

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6^th-generation Texan with a degree in English and history from UTSA. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including the Edgar, RT Reviewers’ Choice, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, and the Last Laugh. She launched a Victorian mystery series featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter Veronica Speedwell in 2015. This Edgar-nominated series is ongoing. Her first contemporary thriller, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, chronicles the adventures of four female assassins who must band together against the organization that would rather see them dead than let them retire.

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“The House on Mulberry Street” (Blue Cedar Falls #3) by Jeannie Chin (ARC Review)

February 23, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Chin, Jeannie. The House on Mulberry Street. New York: Forever, 2023.

ISBN-13: 978-1538753668 | $8.99 USD | 384 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

For these two small-town best friends, sharing a kiss might be the worst mistake of their lives—or the best thing that’s ever happened to them.

Between helping at her family’s inn and teaching painting, Elizabeth Wu has put her dream of being an artist on the back burner. But her plan to launch an arts festival will boost the local Blue Cedar Falls arts scene and give her a showcase for her own work. If only she can get the town council on board. At least she can rely on her dependable best friend Graham to support her. Except lately, he hasn’t been acting like his old self, and she has no idea why.

Graham Lewis has been secretly in love with Elizabeth forever, but it’s past time that he faces the cold, hard truth: vivacious, amazing Elizabeth will never see him as anything but a platonic pal. He’s going to help her get the festival off the ground, but after that he needs to forget his one-sided crush. Until one impulsive kiss changes everything. Can they really rebuild their entire relationship—and the festival—from the ground up? Or will it all come crashing down?

In the series

#1 The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane

#1.5 Only Home with You

#2 Return to Cherry Blossom Way

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The House on Mulberry Street is the third book in the Blue Cedar Falls small-town series. It can be read as a standalone, although this series has been consistently fun and sweet, and I would recommend the other books, especially as the books mostly follow members of the same family who own the town’s inn.

Elizabeth is in a situation that will be relatable for many people: she’s the youngest child of her family, and she’s still trying to figure out her place in life. She loves art, which is a contrast to the more typical passions her sisters have. She’s also messed up a bit, even getting arrested in the past, and I like how her being less-than-perfect is commented on both in the context of both the family dynamics and the small town, while allowing her to ultimately be herself and figure out her place in the world.

Graham is her longtime friend who she’s gotten into some trouble with, and he’s long nursed feelings for her. I love exploring them from his perspective, along with her frustrations at his changing demeanor. While misunderstandings can be frustrating, I feel Jeannie Chin maintains the tension between them, without making the lack of communication overly annoying, and thus making each romantic moment feel worth it.

This is another satisfying installment in the series, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a more diverse take on the small-town romance genre.

Author Bio

Jeannie Chin writes contemporary small town romances. She draws on her experiences as a biracial Asian and white American to craft stories that speak to a uniquely American experience.

She is a former high school science teacher, wife to a geeky engineer, and mom to an extremely talkative kindergartener. Her hobbies include crafting, reading and hiking.

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“Captive in the Underworld” by Lianyu Tan (Review)

February 22, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Tan, Lianyu. Captive in the Underworld. [Place of publication not identified}: Shattered Scepter Press, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0648994800 | $5.99 USD | 316 pages | Dark Fantasy Romance

Blurb

Some flowers bloom only in the dark…

In the land of the dead, Queen Hades’ word is law. Hades gets what she wants—always—and what she wants is a certain goddess of the springtime.

Innocent Persephone chafes beneath her mother’s hawkish gaze and mercurial temper. Demeter has rebuffed all her daughter’s suitors, but she is not yet satisfied; she strives to crush Persephone’s spirit.

Still, when Hades pulls her into the dark realm of the underworld, Persephone longs for the world above, even if it means an eternity under her mother’s thumb.

With her pleas for freedom unheeded and her tears ignored by pitiless Hades, Persephone must learn to satisfy her keeper in all ways, lest she suffer the consequences.

And though she cannot deny that something blooms within her, something forbidden, Persephone despairs of ever feeling the sun upon her skin once more.

No matter the cost, Hades intends to keep her.

Captive in the Underworld is a standalone dark lesbian romance novel set in mythological ancient Greece. It is rooted in the misogyny and cruelties of the Hades/Persephone myth and contains sensitive material. Due to mature content and dark themes, this book is intended for adult readers only. It contains scenes depicting death, abuse, kidnapping, assault, scenes with non-con/dub-con elements and other intimate partner violence. It is not recommended for readers sensitive to such content. To ensure this book is for you, please check the content tags.

Forever.

Review

4 stars

After really enjoying the more recent book I read from Lianyu Tan, I decided to take the plunge and give her previous book, Captive in the Underworld, a chance. Once again, this is not for the faint-hearted reader, and while I’m more than willing to call out things I see as wrong in most romance, I was more than happy to go for the ride once again, especially as Tan writes dark romance with self-awareness about the toxic dynamics of her stories, including 100% transparent content warnings.

Given how messed-up the Greek Gods and Goddesses are (especially the Hades/Persephone myth), I love that Tan plays with that in all its full glory, with the twist that Hades is a woman. The impact that has on her interplay with the other gods, given Hades’ already-tenuous position, is perhaps one of the most fascinating concepts here.

Given I’m not super well read on Greek mythology, I do find it fascinating how many of these darker retellings cast Demeter as manipulative and an abusive mother, in order to make Hades seem like a better option, when my understanding of the tale has always been that Demeter and Persephone had a pretty loving relationship, and the interceding of Hades, plus Demeter’s sadness, supposedly created the seasons. But it was nonetheless easy to understand this incarnation of Demeter being this way, even if it was about isolating Persephone in a toxic way.

This incarnation of Persephone definitely leans more into the traditional demure territory than I would like, but I suppose that’s par for the course for the more “standard” dark romance. However, the softness doesn’t mean she lacks grit and inner strength, even if she does often lack agency. And while dub- and non-con do play major roles in Hades acquiring Persephone, Tan is also effective in creating a relationship that ultimately works. Hades ultimately becomes less villainous and easier to take in as the story goes on, and their romance is beautiful in a dark way.

While this book will not be for everyone, the lush, self-aware writing and the great concepts make it more than worth it if you’re open to trying it. I would most recommend it to anyone looking for sapphic dark fantasy or romance.

Author Bio

Lianyu Tan has always been fascinated by the darker side of love: obsessive yearning and monstrous desires. She usually writes F/F dark fantasy with elements of romantic horror. She is the author of The Wicked and the Willing, an F/F gothic horror vampire novel set in 1920s Singapore, and Captive in the Underworld, an F/F dark fantasy retelling of the Hades/Persephone myth. Her short stories have been published by Cleis Press.

Lianyu is Chinese and lives with her wife in Australia. She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her by email at lianyu@lianyutan.com, or subscribe to her newsletter to get a free, steamy short story.

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“My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix” (Remixed Classics) by Kalynn Bayron (ARC Review)

February 21, 2023 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Bayron, Kalynn. My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2023.

ISBN-13:978-1250833563 | $19.99 USD | 320 pages | YA Historical Horror

Blurb

A teen boy tries to discover the reason behind his best friend’s disappearance—and the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic stranger—in misty Victorian London, in Kalynn Bayron’s My Dear Henry, a gothic YA remix of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, sixth in the Remixed Classics series.

London, 1885. Gabriel Utterson, a 17-year-old law clerk, has returned to London for the first time since his life— and that of his dearest friend, Henry Jekyll—was derailed by a scandal that led to his and Henry’s expulsion from the London Medical School. Whispers about the true nature of Gabriel and Henry’s relationship have followed the boys for two years, and now Gabriel has a chance to start again.

But Gabriel doesn’t want to move on, not without Henry. His friend has become distant and cold since the disastrous events of the prior spring, and now his letters have stopped altogether. Desperate to discover what’s become of him, Gabriel takes to watching the Jekyll house.

In doing so, Gabriel meets Hyde, a a strangely familiar young man with white hair and a magnetic charisma. He claims to be friends with Henry, and Gabriel can’t help but begin to grow jealous at their apparent closeness, especially as Henry continues to act like Gabriel means nothing to him.

But the secret behind Henry’s apathy is only the first part of a deeper mystery that has begun to coalesce. Monsters of all kinds prowl within the London fog—and not all of them are out for blood…

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

My Dear Henry is Kalynn Bayron’s reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and it’s rooted in the intriguing concept of taking the queer subtext of the classic and bringing it to the forefront. The result is a nuanced exploration of how, both then and now, queerness is often viewed as deviant and seen by some as something to be “fixed,” even if it requires truly inhumane measures in the process.

This is Bayron’s first foray into historical fiction, and while there are a few little things that aren’t 100% accurate (although that could change between the proof and final copy), Bayron captured the Victorian era pretty well, including the climate that Black and queer people had to navigate. Race is a motivating factor in some of the characters’ decisions, and I like how this story highlights the issue of being doubly marginalized in an oppressive society, without the story being focused solely on trauma.

Not having read the original, I didn’t know much about Gabriel Utterson’s importance to the plot, other than being an outside observer to the strangeness going on with Jekyll and Hyde, but I think that helped me to appreciate Bayron’s iteration for its own sake.I like how he’s trying to make his way as a Black boy in society, avoid scrutiny, and is navigating the struggles of his medical education in hopes of making something of himself. Ironically, it’s meeting Henry that awakens him to the idea of more, and I like that that dynamic is established, as the later part of the book is Gabriel ultimately coming to rescue Henry from an oppressive situation and bring him back to the person he was initially drawn to.

The twist on the dual personality of Jekyll and Hyde, and its ties to conversion therapy are truly harrowing, but poignantly done. And while this isn’t the first modern retelling to give new dimensions to the Hyde persona, making him more complex than the evil archetype he was originally, there’s extra significance due to Bayron’s desire to tell an explicitly queer story vs. the queer subtext given to the original and the criminalization of being queer during the Victorian era.

The Remixed Classics have been getting better and better, and I’d recommend this one to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with queer and Black protagonists, regardless of whether you’ve read the original or not.

Author Bio

Kalynn Bayron is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the YA fantasy novels Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart. Her latest works include the YA fantasy This Wicked Fate and the middle grade paranormal adventure The Vanquishers. She is a CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominee, a three-time CYBILS Award nominee, a LOCUS Award finalist, and the recipient of the 2022 Randall Kenan Award for Black LGBTQ fiction. She is a classically trained vocalist and musical theater enthusiast. When she’s not writing you can find her watching scary movies and spending time with her family.

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