strange and random happenstance

Spellcloaked by Stephanie Burgis
Published by: Five Fathoms Press
Publication Date: February 3rd 2020
Format: Kindle, 18 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★
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As a young woman Honoria Fennell was an ambassador to the elves. The atrocities she witnessed when she was at their court have haunted her all the days of her life, as has the love she found there, a married elf, Sylvana, who, if the affair was discovered, would have faced the brutality of her husband. That secret is what actually brought about her fall from the Boudiccate. Not many people know what happened at Thornfell College of Magic, only that since that time Honoria has sequestered herself in Cosgrave Manor deep in the elven dales. She has sent the staff away, as for her husband? He left of his own free will. Theirs was, after all, only a marriage of convenience. She is disgraced and alone. Her ambitions of protecting Angland from the tyranny of the elven court is no more. But at least Sylvana is safe. Or at least she hopes so. Honoria can't be sure her blackmailer didn't enact her threats before she was no longer able to. And then a figure steps out of the dales, a figure that asks piercing questions. A figure that has the ability to pierce her heart.

Because of her iron backbone and unwavering stances on the Boudiccate, Lady Honoria Cosgrave has been the antagonist of the previous volumes of the Harwood Spellbook. Therefore it's an interesting conceit to take a rather unlikable character, strip her down, all the way, take away the wealth, the privilege, the position, and make her not just relatable but worthy of her happily ever after. You can understand where she's coming from but what I find truly interesting is that Honoria had a dream, she wanted to protect her people and Sylvana, but she forced herself to work within the system. That is why I think she took such a strong dislike to Cassandra Harwood. Cassandra didn't play by the rules and in Honoria's world that just isn't how it is done. Yet times change, attitudes change, circumstances change, and Honoria realizes that "she had never allowed herself to dream hard enough." That right there is where this story got me. Make your dreams big. Make your love possible. Change the world! We all know if could use some help.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Angland, Blackmail, Boudiccate, Cassandra Harwood, Dream, Elven Dales, Elves, Harwood Spellbook, HEA, Lady Honoria Consgrave, LGBTQIA+, Regency Magic, Spellcloacked, Stephanie Burgis, Thornfell College of Magic

Moontangled by Stephanie Burgis
Published by: Five Fathoms Press
Publication Date: February 3rd 2020
Format: Paperback, 71 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
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After a fraught beginning Thornfell College of Magic is thriving. The school is opening it's doors for a night of dancing and magic. The first ever class plans to dazzle their guests with a demonstration of their magical abilities after a ball under the stars. As for the school's top pupil, Juliana Banks, she has other things on her mind, other things that she is avoiding through denial and hard work. What's really on her mind is Caroline Fennell. Caroline and her have been secretly engaged for quite some time. Caroline has been trying to establish herself as a politician so they have sacrificed their own happiness for the moment to achieve their happily ever after down the road. But ever since Caroline's cousin Honoria fell from power in the Boudiccate Caroline's letters to Juliana have seemed cold and restrained. Is their love in danger? Now that Caroline no longer has her cousin's protection might she view Juliana as a liability as well? All these thoughts are racing through Juliana's head as her classmates primp her in an effort to show Caroline just what she's missing. The problem is, Caroline knows exactly what she's missing. She hasn't stopped loving Juliana, she's been distancing herself from her in an effort to not let the taint of Honoria's crimes effect her. Because if there's one thing Caroline can see clearly it's that Juliana is thriving at Thornfell. She has new friends and is excelling in her studies. How can Caroline force her to keep their betrothal when there's this whole new world at Juliana's feet and Caroline's prospects have been destroyed? Why force her fiance to stick to the plan when the plan is no longer possible? It would be better to just have a clean break. Both women are willing to do anything for the love of their life, but it will take a dangerous confrontation with a fey to get them to bare their hearts.

Moontangled is a short and sweet love story based around a tragic misunderstanding. It's basically Stephanie Burgis's The Gift of the Magi by way of Emmet Otter. Because, let's face it, Emmet Otter is the perfect retelling of The Gift of the Magi once you realize that Emmet's mother is totally selfish and didn't need that dress. And yes, this review has gone off the rails but I think I can get it back on track. Caroline and Juliana are both willing to sacrifice that which is most important to them to make the other happy. Sure it's not watches and hair or washtubs and tools, but they love each other so much that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make the other person happy all without grasping at first that all that matters is each other. As Doc Bullfrog says, "it appears to me that what you needed was each other." Their love is true because they are willing to sacrifice their own happiness for the other's. Thankfully though neither needs to sacrifice anything because all that was needed was open communication. All people get in their heads too much. They overthink and overanalyze to the point where they've worked themselves into a corner. They think they know the truth because how could they not after they've spent countless sleepless nights working through all the permutations of how things could go in their head. And who among us hasn't been derailed by things going differently than we imagined? Even getting to the point where we're not sure what we've said in actuality or in imagination. But thankfully in Caroline and Juliana's case they have fey intervention. The centuries-old fey guardian of the Harwood woods has vowed to watch and keep Thornfell safe. As she had experienced heartbreak she knew she had to protect the hearts of the inhabitants of Thornfell as well and therefore she staged an intervention and the truth did will out. Caroline and Juliana will have their happily ever after after all.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ball, Boudiccate, Caroline Fennell, Doc Bullfrog, Emmet Otter, Fey, Juliana Banks, LGBTQIA+, Magic, Misunderstanding, Moontangled, Politics, Regency Magic, The Gift of the Magi, Thornfell College of Magic, True Love

An Imporbable Season by Rosalyn Eves
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For fans of Bridgerton, a Regency romance by Rosalyn Eves about three young women, their big dreams, and a London Season gone awry.

When Thalia, Kalliope, and Charis set off to Regency London for their first Season, they each have clear goals - few of which include matrimony. Thalia means to make her mark among the intelligentsia and publish her poetry, Charis hopes to earn her place among the scientific elite, and Kalliope aims to take the fashionable ton by storm. But this Season, it doesn't take long for things to fall apart. Kalli finds herself embroiled in scandal and reliant upon an arranged marriage to redeem her reputation, Thalia's dreams of publication are threatened by her attraction to a charming rake, and Charis finds herself an unexpected social hit - and the source of a family scandal that her heart might not survive. Can this roller-coaster Season find its happily ever after?

An Improbable Season is a voicy, swoony regency drama about falling in love - with another person, with new opportunities, and with yourself."

I am here for all things Regency!

Penelope Goes to Portsmouth by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 179 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A dead employer's legacy of five thousand pounds has allowed spinster Hannah Pym to resign from housekeeping and find adventure traveling the English countryside by coach. But adventure soon finds Miss Pym in the form of runaway brides, spirited heiresses, and international refugees, who give her an opportunity to test her expert matchmaking skills.

In the coach to Portsmouth, Miss Pym faces her most difficult matchmaking challenge yet. The lovely Miss Penelope Wilkins, daughter of a rich merchant, would be the perfect match for the handsome Lord Augustus, a nobleman whose fortune is almost depleted. She would be, that is, if the two were at all compatible.

Though strikingly beautiful, the too-practical Penelope seems to stand on quite the opposite cliff from the carefree Lord Augustus. But when the undaunted Miss Pym enlists their help in untangling an intrigue - and Lord Augustus steals an astounding kiss from the shocked Penelope - Miss Pym is convinced that her matchmaking expertise will soon bridge any chasm between the reluctant lovers."

How glad I am that these books are finally being published stateside, but how sad I am that my mom isn't here to enjoy them.

An American Beauty by Shana Abe 
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Amidst the opulent glamor and vicious social circles of Gilded Age New York, this stunning biographical historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor conjures the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington - a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.

1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham's gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It's not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.

Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis's help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis's seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.

Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife's death. But "The Four Hundred" - the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts - have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society - not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat - an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart...

An American Beauty brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history - and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules."

I'm a bit Gilded Age obsessed at the moment...

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Set in the City of Light and starring Julia Child's (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American, this magnifique new historical mystery series from the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall combines a fresh perspective on the iconic chef's years in post-WWII Paris with a delicious mystery and a unique culinary twist. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, Nita Prose, and of course, Julia Child alike!

As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn't just the City of Light; it's the city of history, romance, stunning architecture...and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend Julia Child, another ex-pat who's fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and Oncle Rafe.

Between tutoring Americans in French, visiting the market, and eagerly sampling the results of Julia's studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha's sojourn is proving thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia's building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim as a woman she'd met only the night before, at a party given by Julia's sister, Dort. The murder weapon found nearby is recognizable too - a knife from Julia's kitchen.

Tabitha is eager to help the investigation, but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha's handwriting, was found in the dead woman's pocket. Is this murder a case of international intrigue, or something far more personal? From the shadows of the Tour Eiffel at midnight, to the tiny third-floor Child kitchen, to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates through the city hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison...or worse."

I love the new direction Collen is taking with her writing, cozy yet historical.

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley
Published by: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust is the second book in Mindy Quigley's delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.

Newly single pizzeria owner Delilah O'Leary is determined to keep her restaurant afloat in the picturesque resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. To boost her bottom line, she sets her sights on winning the hefty cash prize in the town's annual "Taste of Wisconsin" culinary contest. In her corner, she's got her strong-willed, "big-boned" cat Butterball, her wisecracking BFF, her cantankerous great-aunt, and a nearly-flawless recipe for Pretzel Crust Deep-Dish Bratwurst Pizza. But while Delilah and her team have been focused on pumping out perfect pizza pies, her ex-fiancé has cozied up to a new squeeze, juice bar owner Jordan Watts - Delilah's contest rival.

When one of Jordan's juice bar customers is poisoned by a tainted smoothie, Delilah lands deep in the sauce. Accusations fly, suspects abound, and a menacing stranger turns up with a beef over some missing dough. Between kale-juicing hipsters and grudge-bearing celebrity chefs, Delilah must act quickly before another one bites the crust."

Just saying, the way to win a "Taste of Wisconsin" culinary contest is cheese, cheese, and just when you think you've added enough cheese, you add some more.

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
Published by: Mariner Books
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The discovery of a missing woman's bones force Ruth and Nelson to finally confront their feelings for each other as they desperately work to exonerate one of their own in this not-to-be-missed Ruth Galloway mystery from USA Today bestselling author Elly Griffiths.

When builders discover a human skeleton during a renovation of a café, they call in archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern - the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily's Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared - Ruth's friend Cathbad.

As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archeology group and look for a link between them and the café where Emily's bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend?"

I love Elly Griffiths Magic Men series and I have got to start the Ruth Galloway mysteries one of these days...

The Notorious Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The now notorious outlaws Scarlett and Browne are back in their second death-defying adventure - and this time it's not just their own lives on the line....

Albert and Scarlett are a formidable pair. With his ability to read minds and her way with a weapon, no bank can keep them out and no jail can keep them in.

But their notoriety may have spread a bit too far. Now old enemies from Scarlett's past and a sinister new threat from Albert's world are boxing them in - and holding their friends hostage.

To win their freedom, the outlaws Scarlett and Browne are charged with pulling off an impossible mission.

And the clock is ticking . . .

Fans of Jonathan Stroud's The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne won't want to miss their next adventure."

After adoring Stroud's Lockwood and Co. series I am so excited I have this new series of his to dive into!

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"New York Times bestselling author T.J. Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots - fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio - a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Inspired by Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door."

I think we also have to mention Philip K. Dick too right? I mean, "Electric Dreams."

A Sleight of Shadows by Kat Howard
Published by: Gallery / Saga Press
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Return to Kat Howard's Alex Award–winning world begun in An Unkindness of Magicians, a secret society of power-hungry magicians in New York City.

After taking down the source of the corruption of the Unseen World, Sydney is left with almost no magical ability. Feeling estranged from herself, she is determined to find a way back to her status as one of the world's most dangerous magicians. Unfortunately, she needs to do this quickly: the House of Shadows, the hell on earth that shaped her into who she was, the place she sacrificed everything to destroy, is rebuilding itself.

"The House of shadows sits on bones. All of the sacrifices, all of the magicians who died in Shadows, they're buried beneath the foundations. Bones hold magic."

The magic of the Unseen World is acting strangely, faltering, bleeding out from the edges. Determined to keep the House of Shadows from returning to power and to defeat the magicians who want nothing more than to have it back, Sydney turns to extremes in a desperate attempt to regain her sacrificed magic. She is forced to decide what she will give up and what she will lose and whether what must be destroyed is not only the House of Shadows, but the Unseen World itself.

World Fantasy Award finalist Kat Howard has written a sequel that asks how you have a happily ever in a world that doesn’t want it, where the cost of that happiness may be too much to bear."

Why do I love evil magic so much?

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
Published by: Amulet Books
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A stunning YA fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Holly Black and Justina Ireland, about a Black girl (and sword expert) fighting a Fae uprising in Shakespearean London.

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King's Men. Joan's skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal - an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually that doesn't involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae's body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel Lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds.

Swashbuckling, romantic, and full of the sights and sounds of Shakespeare's London, this series starter delivers an unforgettable story - and a heroine unlike any other."

Fae? Shakespearean London? Sold!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Brittany N. Williams, Colleen Cambridge, Elly Griffiths, Fae, Gilded Age, Jonathan Stroud, Julia Child, Kat Howard, M.C. Beaton, Mindy Quigley, Regency, Rosalyn Eves, Shakespeare, Shana Abe, T.J. Klune, Wisconsin

Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis
Published by: Five Fathoms Press
Publication Date: February 14th, 2019
Format: Paperback, 204 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy

After Cassandra Harwood's felicitous meeting with Miss Juliana Banks at Cosgrave Manor Cassandra's life has purpose again. Miss Banks showed Cassandra that despite losing her own magic she could help those who wished to follow in her footsteps. Cassandra could teach the next generation of female mages because Miss Banks, much like Cassandra before her, has a dream. Miss Banks wants to become a mage so that she can marry the love of her life, Miss Caroline Fennell. Miss Fennell has ambitions to join the Boudiccate, like her cousin Lady Honoria Cosgrave, but a politician must be married to a mage. Therefore Miss Banks intends to be that mage. And Cassandra will help her. After all Cassandra was finally able to marry the love of her life, Wrexham, so why shouldn't Miss Banks? Thus Thornfell College of Magic was born. Thornfell is the dower house on the Harwood Estate and hasn't been used since the family's infamous recluse and amateur botanist Romulus Harwood planned to live there prior to his sudden death. Cassandra's spent six months fixing the house to her exacting specifications. This school will be perfect. It has to be. Because the Boudiccate is sending an inspection party and if they say so the school can be shut down immediately. Of course they were supposed to arrive in a day or two, not at the same time as the students. But at first Cassandra is hopeful, the assigned mage, Mr. Lionel Westgate, is her husband's boss, Lady Honoria Cosgrave is reasonable, and Miss Caroline Fennell obviously wants the school to succeed, but Mrs. Annabel Renwick is a different story. She was the tormentor of Cassandra's youth. With Annabel present there is no chance of a fair inspection. Thornfell College of Magic is as good as done. Especially once a dangerous fey contract is signed in the middle of the night on a sinister alter in the library. Then a member of staff disappears. Once Annabel goes missing there looks to be no way that Cassandra can save the school. Now she's fighting for the lives of her students not just their right to an education.

This is what it's all about people! Thornbound is my jam. While I very much enjoyed Spellswept and Snowspelled I view them now as mere background to this awesome volume. This was our final destination and it is magical, in more ways than one. There's dangerous fey, old grudges, and even older secrets to be revealed! This book has everything I could ever want in a Regency Magic story. But what I really latched onto was this idea that Cassandra creating a school was a selfish act. The education of others, becoming an educator, is perhaps the most selfless thing one can do. You are concentrating on teaching the younger generations all they need to survive. But Cassandra is being told she is selfish. Mr. Westgate tells Cassandra that her decision to open the school has negatively impacted her husband's career. Wrexham is being overworked and forced to do the worst jobs as some sort of punishment for his unconventional wife. Likewise the Boudiccate hint that the school is hurting Cassandra's sister-in-law's political chances. Amy has always wanted to be a member of the Boudiccate, but every since her heart fell for Jonathan Harwood her chances have been slim. But the Boudiccate hints that if Cassandra were to give up her foolish venture then perhaps Amy could be slowly reintroduced to their political way of life. It's like the powers that be are gaslighting Cassandra. They are telling her she's a horrible selfish person because she isn't thinking about the great good. But what is the greater good? Is it what is good for the whole of society or what is good for those who maintain an iron grip on their power by not letting change happen? In fact isn't change really what is the greater good and therefore shouldn't Cassandra's school be embraced? I really felt this deep in my bones. I have been called selfish when I wasn't at all, it only looked as such from someone on the outside looking in. But is it selfish to go after your dreams, especially when encouraged by those you love, even if they get hurt? Perhaps if they are willing to make the sacrifice you should be willing to believe in them? Dreams and change are hard, but Thornbound shows how very important they are.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Boudiccate, Caroline Fennell, Cassandra Harwood, Change, Fey, Harwood Spellbook, Juliana Banks, Rajaram Wrexham, Regency Magic, Snowspelled, Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis, Thornbound, Thornfell College of Magic

Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis
Published by: Five Fathoms Press
Publication Date: September 4th, 2017
Format: Paperback, 168 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy

Cassandra Harwood had everything. She was the only female magician in Angland. She was betrothed to Rajaram Wrexham, the best magician in Angland, after herself that is. But things weren't going to plan. Letting her have an education was all well and good, but giving her a job? No, that wasn't the done thing. What was all that work for if she's not allowed to do something? So she felt the need to prove herself as she'd been forced to time and time again and things did not go well. She over-extended herself. Her old life is no more. No magic and no Wrexham. Two months ago she felt she had to drive him away to save them both. Though she's the only one who believes this. Her sister-in-law Amy is convinced that Cassandra and Wrexham just need a chance to reconnect and what better opportunity than at a week-long house party in the elven dales? Cosgrave Manor will be filled to bursting with bickering magicians and ruthless lady politicians as the Boudiccate prepares for their Winter Solstice Ceremony to reaffirm the human's peace treaty with the elves. There will be more than enough alcoves to compromise Wrexham in if Cassandra would just admit how much she misses him. What could be more romantic than being snowbound with the love of your life? More importantly it will get Cassandra out of the house where she's become a recluse and out of the rut she's worked herself into that's half pity half self flagellation. But things don't go according to plan. The weather is abysmal, snow so thick it's almost unnatural, and when they arrive at their destination their hostess, Lady Honoria Cosgrave, is worried about her young cousin's party. Miss Fennell and Miss Banks should have arrived by now but are missing. Cassandra agrees to help in the search, which was her first mistake. Her second was walking on a troll. Her third was accidentally making a binding promise to an elf-lord. So now she has to figure out who is behind the unnatural weather or forfeit her future to the elves. And all this just when she'd finally found something to live for again, and Wrexham is only part of that future.

Snowspelled wasn't the book I was expecting. When I read "trapped in a snowbound house party" I got certain ideas in my head. Ideas that are much more common in locked-room mysteries. So I'm not here damning with faint praise, I'm here going, this will be a book I will be glad to re-read with my expectations in check. Expectations that aren't typical of my usual holiday fare. I seriously read too many murder mysteries around the holidays. I wanted more country house party less protective heat bubbles with people wandering about in bespelled snow. Seriously, they were outside way too much for being "snowbound." But once I got past my own expectations I found myself falling in love with a wonderful story about finding your path after your old path was taken away from you forever. Oh and evil elves. I seriously love evil elves. Haven't we all had dreams that have come shattering down? We've worked and worked for years and then, just like Cassandra, there's that over-extension and the horrible burst of pain and disbelief and crushing reality. This heroine's journey is atypical and therefore actually made it all the more relatable. Because not everyone gets all their dreams. We have to settle, we have to search, we have to find a new path. One that works with what we are capable of doing. This book is so much more hopeful than traditional fairy tale stories because there it's all laid out until the HEA. Here there's no guarantees. And I have to admit, a fully powered and cocky Cassandra would not have been a good look. I don't think I would have liked her. A humbled Cassandra is relatable. She's able to find a HEA with how her life has turned out. It might not have been how she expected it in the least, but the managing of expectations is a powerful lesson. Find your HEA in your own way. In a way that you can handle. Don't let anyone tell you you aren't worth it no matter how many setbacks you've faced. Everyone deserves happiness.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Angland, Cassandra Harwood, Elven Dales, Elves, Harwood Spellbook, HEA, Heroine's Journey, Locked Room, Magician, Mystery, Rajaram Wrexham, Regency Magic, Snow, Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis, Winter Solstice

Mummy Darlings by Emily Hourican
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This stunning novel the from author of The Glorious Guinness Girls follows the three enigmatic Guinness sisters as they take on married life and motherhood at the beginning of the 1930s.

It's the dawn of the 1930s and the three privileged Guinness sisters, Aileen, Maureen and Oonagh, settle into becoming wives and mothers: Aileen in Luttrellstown Castle outside Dublin, Maureen in Clandeboye in Northern Ireland, and Oonagh in Rutland Place in London.

But while Britain becomes increasingly politically polarized, Aileen, Maureen and Oonagh discover conflict within their own marriages.

Oonagh's dream of romantic love is countered by her husband's lies; the intense nature of Maureen's marriage means passion, but also rows; while Aileen begins to discover that, for her, being married offers far less than she had expected.

Meanwhile, Kathleen, a housemaid from their childhood home in Glenmaroon, travels between the three sisters, helping, listening, watching - even as her own life brings her into conflict with the clash between fascism and communism.

As affairs are uncovered and secrets exposed, the three women begin to realize that their gilded upbringing could not have prepared them for the realities of married life, nor for the scandals that seem to follow them around."

If you've read all there is about the Mitfords, might I suggest the Guinnesses?

The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz
Published by: Graydon House,
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One woman. Two childhood loves. The dazzling place where it all began.

When Emma Jansen discovers that the grand Long Island estate where she grew up is set to be demolished, she can't help but return for one last visit. After all, it was a place filled with firsts: learning to ride a bike, sneaking a glass of champagne, falling in love.

But once Emma arrives at the storied mansion, she can't ignore the more complicated memories. Because that's not exactly where Emma grew up. Her mother and father worked for the family that owned the estate, and they lived over the garage like Audrey Hepburn's character in the film Sabrina. Emma never felt fully accepted, except by the family's grandson, Henry - a former love - and by the driver's son, Leo - her best friend.

As plans for the property are put into motion and the three are together for the first time in over a decade, Emma finds herself caught between two worlds and two loves. And when the house reveals a shattering secret about her own family, she'll have to decide what kind of life she really wants for herself now and who she wants to be in it."

Here for the Sabrina of it all!

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One of Buzzfeed's Romance Books To Look Out For In 2023!

Two rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen.

Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice's capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she's immediately assigned to the case.

But she's not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice's greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life - pretending to be Alice's husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans.

Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target."

A pirate house party!?! 

The Cherished by Patricia Ward
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For fans of White Smoke, The Hazel Wood, and Wilder Girls comes an original, hypnotizing horror thriller in the vein of Midsommar, as one girl inherits a mysterious house from her estranged grandmother - and a letter with sinister instructions.

Jo never expected to be placed in her absent grandmother's will - let alone be left her house, her land, and a letter with mysterious demands.

Upon arriving at the inherited property, things are even more strange.

The tenants mentioned in the letter are odd, just slightly…off. Jo feels something dark and decrepit in the old shack behind the house. And the things that her father used to talk about, his delusions… Why is Jo starting to believe they might be real?

But what Jo fears most is the letter from her grandmother. Because if it's true, then Jo belongs here, in this strange place. And she has no choice but to stay."

I love menacing inheritances, I hate Midsommar.

Stranger Things: Heroes and Monsters by Rana Tahir
Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A thrilling Choose Your Own Adventure® book based on Netflix's Stranger Things!

Are YOU ready to journey to the dark side of Hawkins, Indiana? Join Eleven, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and their friends as they explore Pennhurst Asylum, the creepy old Creel house, and possibly even the Upside Down. The decisions YOU make will decide the fates of the characters and lead to unexpected, thrilling, and even deadly outcomes. Fans of Netflix's hit show Stranger Things will love this exciting addition to the Choose Your Own Adventure® series.

In Netflix's Stranger Things, a group of young friends explore supernatural forces and secret government exploits in Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s. As they search for answers, the children embark on incredible adventures and unravel extraordinary mysteries."

OK, I couldn't think of a better partnership if I tried.

Games for Dead Girls by Jen Williams
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Exploring the fine line where supernatural ends and real human monstrosity begins, Games for Dead Girls is a haunting, dark read from award-winning author Jen Williams.

In the vein of Jennifer Hillier and Alex North, and told in alternating timelines, a ritualistic game turns deadly for two young girls, but it will be years before they must face the true horrors of their past.

When Charlie was eleven, she created a monster...

For Charlie and her niece Katie, it's supposed to be a quiet holiday in the peaceful, out-of-the-way seaside town of Hithechurch, England. Charlie is researching a book on the folklore of the area, and the gloomy sea and dangerous caves seem to offer up plenty of material, while Katie is just there to run wild and get some fresh air.

But Charlie's research reveals a deeper, darker secret, one that uncovers her own, carefully hidden past. Because young women are going missing again: a teenage girl snatched from the beach in broad daylight, and before that, other girls through the decades have vanished from the area, their families left with no answers and no bodies to bury.

Charlie's creation was a thing of felt, straw, fury, and a rusty pair of scissors in the dark. It couldn't be her monster. Could it? Charlie is set on discovering the truth about the girls' disappearances, but she's about to encounter a force of pure, obsessive malevolence that threatens to destroy anything in its path."

Folklore and monsters made real, YES!

Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A young Native girl's hunt for answers about the women mysteriously disappearing from her tribe's reservation leads her to delve into the myths and stories of her people, all while being haunted herself, in this atmospheric and stunningly poignant debut.

Anna Horn is always looking over her shoulder. For the bullies who torment her, for the entitled visitors at the reservation's casino…and for the nameless, disembodied entity that stalks her every step - an ancient tribal myth come-to-life, one that's intent on devouring her whole.

With strange and sinister happenings occurring around the casino, Anna starts to suspect that not all the horrors on the reservation are old. As girls begin to go missing and the tribe scrambles to find answers, Anna struggles with her place on the rez, desperately searching for the key she’s sure lies in the legends of her tribe's past.

When Anna's own little sister also disappears, she'll do anything to bring Grace home. But the demons plaguing the reservation - both ancient and new - are strong, and sometimes, it's the stories that never get told that are the most important.

Part gripping thriller and part mythological horror, author Nick Medina spins an incisive and timely novel of life as an outcast, the cost of forgetting tradition, and the courage it takes to become who you were always meant to be."

Oh, I love the phrase mythological horror! I have to use that more often because that is my jam.

Trejo's Cantina by Danny Trejo
Published by: Clarkson Potter
Publication Date: April 18th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cantina-style celebration of Mexican food and drink, entertaining, and Hollywood culture in 100 recipes for nachos, tacos, and Danger Dogs plus cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks from the legendary actor, restaurateur, and author of the acclaimed Trejo's Tacos.

The cantina is the place where families, friends, and colleagues gather to celebrate. In Trejo's Cantina, beloved actor and restaurateur Danny Trejo shares recipes for snacks and drinks that celebrate his traditions and spirit. Along with mouthwatering recipes that make all people feel welcome, from plant-based (Vegan Tamales) and vegetarian (Fight Night Nachos; Mexican Grilled Caesar) to meaty faves (Chorizo Smash Burgers; Tijuana-Style Birria), there are also dozens of inventive takes on classic cocktails including spicy Margaritas and Oaxacan "Moscow" Mules as well as dozens of thirst-quenching non-alcoholic drinks such as Agua Frescas (Pineapple, Guava Lime, Mango), a Tamarind Fizz, and a Cacao Chile Smoothie.

Danny includes helpful tips like how to build a booze-free bar, how to master the tamale, how to mix-and-match salsas, and much more. He also reminisces about his upbringing in Los Angeles, from barhopping with uncles on Olvera Street to his memories of sneaking into movie theaters to cool off and watching films wide-eyed and inspired.

Danny's approach to entertaining is accessible, celebratory, and empowering to cooks of all skill levels. Trejo's Cantina, at its heart, is about living to the fullest, and about how no matter what happens, you need to eat well, drink with gratitude, and celebrate life."

I love Danny Trejo and I love that he has non-alcoholic drinks in this book as a non-drinker.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Brenda Janowitz, Choose Your Own Adventure, Danny Trejo, Emily Hourican, Guinesses, India Holton, Jen Williams, Mitfords, Mythological Horror, Nick Medina, Non-Alcholoic, Patricia Ward, Sabrina, Stranger Things

Spellswept by Stephanie Burgis
Published by: Five Fathoms Press
Publication Date: April 30th, 2018
Format: Paperback, 88 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy

Amy Standish's life has gone to plan. Sure, she was passed from relative to relative and never really had a family or a true home, but her political ambitions are about to pay off. Her goal has always been to be a ruling member of the Boudiccate. These powerful women protect Angland with their mage husbands by their sides, just as Boudicca herself did when the Romans tried to invade. Amy's first step was to become Miranda Harwood's personal secretary. Ten months previously she started to work for the famous politician and member of the Boudiccate. And tonight, tonight she will propose marriage to the mage Lord Llewellyn and her ascension will be complete, minus a few details. Because tonight is the Harwood's annual Spring Equinox ball held in a legendary underwater ballroom situated in the Aelfen Mere at Harwood House that Miranda Harwood's husband created for her as a wedding gift three decades earlier. And what could be more perfect than to announce her engagement to Lord Llewellyn at the end of a ball she has organized down to the very last detail? Because Amy's life is about the details and her plan. Nothing will steer her off course, not even Miranda Harwood's son Jonathan. Jonathan Harwood is rather notorious. He did not follow in his father's footsteps and in fact refused to study magic. It was quite a scandal for the family that he didn't take up his place at the Great Library of Trinivantium but his family still loves him, and so does Amy. But he's not a mage and no one has ever become a member of the Boudiccate without a mage husband. If only Jonathan had studied magic her life could be perfect. Though life isn't perfect, no matter how hard you try to make it, and despite Amy double checking every single detail something dangerous could be about to happen in the underwater ballroom. It's not just the lives of the visiting dignitaries but the way the world works. Amy is about to be let in on the Harwood secret and she realizes why Jonathan has never studied magic and how she could perhaps find purpose, love, and a family, if she's only willing to reach out a grab it and it all hinges on Jonathan's thirteen year old sister, Cassandra.

When most people think of scholared magicians and wizards one thinks of men, of those great bearded wizards as made immortal by Terry Pratchett. And that's the world this book takes place in, except that it's not. In this Angland while men have the magic, they also have the emotions. The women wield political power and can compromise men. I just love this idea. It's turning the world on it's head but at the same time it's working within the framework of British history. Think of all the great women leaders from Boudicca to Queen Elizabeth, now what if their political power wasn't just an exception to the rule but the rule. Women are the political power because they are better built to handle it, and that's a concept I totally agree with. We are. But at the same time there's an interesting commentary that Spellswept underscores with Jonathan and Cassandra, that any society that has strict gender roles isn't a truly equal society. Yes, women, whom have historically been relegated to childrearing and the home, might cheer to think of a society where they have all the political might, I know I did, but is it fair to make every woman a politician and every man a mage? No it's not. People should be able to choose who and what they want to be not based on proscribed gender roles but based on talent and inclination. We see here that the most terrifying, yet the most liberating idea is what if anyone could be anything? Because then Amy wouldn't be forced to marry a mage she didn't love just because she did have political ambitions. And as for the reveal regarding Cassandra? It's an interesting situation. There is an agreement that she is allowed to be exempt from the rules as long as she's the only exception. Going back to my previous example of Queen Elizabeth, is it good to have people who are exceptions to the rules? Shouldn't there be equality in the world in all things? Well, one thing is certain, even in a world with magic you aren't guaranteed an easy life.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Amy Standish, Boudicca, Boudiccate, Cassandra Harwood, Equality, Harwood Spellbook, Jonathan Harwood, Mage, Politics, Queen Elizabeth, Romans, Spellswept, Spring Equinox Ball, Stephanie Burgis, Terry Pratchett

I started my blog in May of 2009. In the early days it was a haphazard affair. I didn't really have any theme other than, this is what's going on in my head at the moment; here's a TV show I'm watching, what about this book everyone loves that I hate, here's an actor whose awesome and would be perfect in an adaptation, you get the idea, in fact you can go back and read it if you wanted, I don't think I can cause of the cringe factor. I wasn't alone though, there seemed to be a lot of people doing book blogs that were a mishmash of ideas. The content creators of quite a few of them are still my friends but many blogs have gone by the wayside. Rest in peace book blogging craze of the late 2000s. There were quite a few authors who were debuting around that time and reaching out to the blogging community and they were getting a lot of buzz and Stephanie was one of them. Her debut, Kat, Incorrigible, was coming out in 2010 and it was all anyone was talking about. I really don't know if she knew this was going on, but those of us who are Regency mad couldn't wait to get our hands on it, I even found this really old blog post I did. Plus the US cover is so delightfully Disney with a dash of Coraline how could anyone resist? She also was one of the first authors I knew of who really used the web to engage with her fans. I remember I'd get up every day and get ready to blog but I'd stop by her website to see what was going on with her first. Over the years I've become more and more of a fan of her work and was beyond honored that she participated in my inaugural year of Regency Magic. I feel as if Stephanie and I have gone through this crazy book journey of the past fourteen years together, her writing books and me promoting them and adoring them in my little way. And I really mean little way, what I do is content, what she does is magic with pen and ink. And the magic she has been creating in recent years is once again set during the Regency, so how could I not ask her to participate again? So I'll be here gushing about her Harwood Spellbook series and her Regency Dragons series and probably her cat Pebbles, because she's just so adorable. I hope you'll join me and Stephanie!

Question: When did you first discover Jane Austen?

Answer: My dad read me Pride and Prejudice when I was eight years old, and I fell head-over-heels in love! I ended up devouring all of her novels, and I've re-read almost all of them many times since then.

Question: What do you think Jane Austen would think of her impact with so many literary offshoots, from parody to pastiche?

Answer: I'm sure she'd be pleased by her success, although she might wish she had gotten paid better for the books at the time she originally published them...

Question: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Answer: All of my books feature families, not just solitary characters, and that definitely comes from my own experience growing up in a big, noisy, loving family. As for the rest of it - the setting of my first Kat book, Kat, Incorrigible, was based on Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, where my husband and I used to go almost every weekend to soak in the atmosphere and walk our dog. Walking around Georgian House museums all across the UK was really, really helpful. And the second Kat book, Renegade Magic was directly inspired by my many trips to the city of Bath, and particularly by the wonderful Museum of the Roman Baths, which is amazing. I highly recommend a visit to anyone who ever gets the chance!

Question: What makes the early 19th century mesh so well with magic?

Answer: It's recent enough - and popular enough - to feel accessible even for people who don't generally read historical fiction, but it's also distant enough from our own time period to feel exotic and a bit like a fantasy setting in itself! I think the fact that we accept so many different social rules and expectations when we're reading Regency-era novels sets us up as readers to accept different rules of magic/reality as well.

Question: The world building and system of magic varies greatly in the regency fantasy genre, how did you go about creating yours?

Answer: I've loved playing with lots of different kinds in my different series, from the secret-magic-rumbling-behind-the-real-historical-world setup of my Kat, Incorrigible series to the slightly-tweaked alt-history of my Regency Dragons trilogy (in which no one believes in magic but oops, dragons just got rediscovered!)...all the way to the flat-out, totally-different-history of my alt-19th-century Harwood Spellbook series (in which Boudicca kicked out the Romans centuries ago and 19th-century Angland is ruled by a Boudiccate of powerful, hard-headed women politicians who leave the more irrational, emotional magic to the gentlemen). There are so many different possibilities to explore!

Question: If you had to choose between writing only period literature or only fantasy literature, which would win?

Answer: Fantasy would have to win, for me. I've published lots of contemporary fantasy short stories in various magazines, and the MG novel I'm working on right now is set in a secondary world that's only loosely based on early nineteenth century Germany. But I would never want to give up writing historical fiction, either! I have a historical fantasy novel for adults coming out next year, Masks and Shadows, which is set in a real eighteenth-century palace in Hungary, full of intrigue, magic and romance. It was delicious to get to play with another rich historical setting as I wrote that book. I can't imagine giving up writing historical fiction!

Question: Be honest, have you ever dressed up in Regency clothes just to pretend for a moment you are in the past?

Answer: Ha! No - but only for lack of opportunity. I would loooove to dress up in a real Regency outfit just to feel it for myself instead of having to guess exactly how those gowns really feel on my characters.

Biography:
Stephanie Burgis grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, but now lives in Wales with her husband and two sons, surrounded by mountains, castles and coffee shops. She writes fun MG fantasy adventures and has had seven published so far, most recently The Raven Heir. She also writes wildly romantic adult historical fantasies, most recently Good Neighbors. She has had over forty short stories for adults and teens published in various magazines and anthologies.

Stephanie's Social Media:
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Authors, Bath, Book Blogger, Boudiccate, Cats, Content Creation, Coraline, Fantasy, Harwood Spellbook, Kat Incorrigible, Pebbles, Pride and Prejudice, Regency Dragons, Regency Magic, Renegade Magic, Stephanie Burgis

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph
Published by: Henry Holt and Co
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's finally time for Charles Ignatius Sancho to tell his story, one that begins on a slave ship in the Atlantic and ends at the very center of London life....A lush and immersive tale of adventure, artistry, romance, and freedom set in eighteenth-century England and based on a true story.

It's 1746 and Georgian London is not a safe place for a young Black man. Charles Ignatius Sancho must dodge slave catchers and worse, and his main ally - a kindly duke who taught him to write - is dying. Sancho is desperate and utterly alone. So how does the same Charles Ignatius Sancho meet the king, write and play highly acclaimed music, become the first Black person to vote in Britain, and lead the fight to end slavery? Through every moment of this rich, exuberant tale, Sancho forges ahead to see how much he can achieve in one short life: "I had little right to live, born on a slave ship where my parents both died. But I survived, and indeed, you might say I did more.""

I've been a fan of Paterson Joseph for years, Numberwang anyone? But I learned about his passion for the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho on an episode of An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates and wanted to know more. Thankfully for those unable to see his play he's now written a book!

Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"London, 1893 - deadly doings are afoot in the British Museum and private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn must unravel a mystery involving a mummy, a giant ruby and a murder, in Will Thomas's Heart of the Nile.

Cyrus Barker, along with his former assistant and now partner Thomas Llewelyn, is the premier enquiry agent in all of 19th century London, and beyond. They've thwarted the designs of villains and crooks off all sorts, helped Scotland Yard crack their most challenging cases, and worked for the Her Majesty's Government at the very highest levels. But nothing has been quite as challenging and dangerous as the latest case that comes to find them.

In 1893, a volunteer at the British Museum makes a startling discovery. When examining a mummy in the museum's collection, he discovers there is a giant ruby in the shape of a heart buried in the chest of the mummy. Even more startling, the mummy might well be Cleopatra. The following morning, the volunteer is found floating in the Thames and the ruby has gone missing. Hired by the victim’s wife to learn the truth behind his death, Barker and Llewelyn find themselves in the crosshairs - now they must avoid a violent street gang, a ruthless collector, and the British Museum itself in order to find the killer and safeguard the gem."

Did someone say mummy? And yes, I look like a dog who has just heard the word squirrel.

Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The 28th twisting installment in the DCI Alan Banks mystery series that Stephen King calls "the best now on the market."

In November 1980, Nick Hartley returns home from a university lecture to find his house crawling with police. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found murdered, and her new boyfriend Mark Woodcroft is missing. Nick is the prime suspect. The case quickly goes cold, but Nick cannot let it go. He embarks on a career in investigative journalism, determined to find Alice's murderer - but his obsession leads him down a dangerous path.

Decades later, in November 2019, an archaeologist unearths a skeleton that turns out to be far more contemporary than the Roman remains she is seeking. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called in to investigate, but there is little to be gleaned from the remains themselves. Left with few clues, Banks and his team must rely on their wits to hunt down a killer.

As the two cases unfurl, the investigations twist and turn to an explosive conclusion."

Please don't say this is the last DCI Banks book, I can't handle that along with Peter Robinson dying.

A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany by Vivian Conroy
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Kindle, 253 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Agatha Christie meets Julie Caplin in this exciting new cosy crime series that captures the glamour of the 1930s with the gorgeous escapist destinations!

An escape to Tuscany.
An unexpected invitation.
A murder at midnight...

When novice detective Atalanta Ashford is whisked away to Italy by her friend, race car driver Raoul Lemont, she anticipates a happy holiday under the Tuscan sun. But a chance meeting on the Orient Express with Italian heiress Catharina Lanetti leads to a party invitation…and front row seats for a mysterious murder!

With their new friend under suspicion Atalanta and Raoul set to work trying to discover who really murdered Catharina's father. But with more than half a dozen suspects - all with compelling motive - Atalanta may just be facing her toughest case yet!"

So much vintage goodness, the Orient Express, race car drivers, heiress!

Magnificent Rebel by Anne de Courcy
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Anne de Courcy, the author of Husband Hunters and Chanel's Riviera, examines the controversial life of legendary beauty, writer and rich girl Nancy Cunard during her thirteen years in Jazz-Age Paris.

Paris in the 1920s was bursting with talent in the worlds of art, design and literature. The city was at the forefront of everything new and exciting; there was no censorship; life and love were there for the taking. At its center was the gorgeous, seductive English socialite Nancy Cunard, scion of the famous shipping line. Her lovers were legion, but this book focuses on five of the most significant and a lifelong friendship.

Her affairs with acclaimed writers Ezra Pound, Aldous Huxley, Michael Arlen and Louis Aragon were passionate and tempestuous, as was her romance with black jazz pianist Henry Crowder. Her friendship with the famous Irish novelist George Moore, her mother's lover and a man falsely rumored to be Nancy's father, was the longest-lasting of her life. Cunard's early years were ones of great wealth but also emotional deprivation. Her mother Lady Cunard, the American heiress Maud Alice Burke (who later changed her name to Emerald) became a reigning London hostess; Nancy, from an early age, was given to promiscuity and heavy drinking and preferred a life in the arts to one in the social sphere into which she had been born. Highly intelligent, a gifted poet and widely read, she founded a small press that published Samuel Beckett among others. A muse to many, she was also a courageous crusader against racism and fascism. She left Paris in 1933, at the end of its most glittering years and remained unafraid to live life on the edge until her death in 1965.

Magnificent Rebel is a nuanced portrait of a complex woman, set against the backdrop of the City of Light during one of its most important and fascinating decades."

A true trailblazer and one whose life hasn't been saturated in publishing!

The Enigma of Garlic by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Anchor
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The latest installment in the charming and congenial 44 Scotland Street series finds all our favorite residents of Scotland's most celebrated address up to their usual hilarious hijinks.

It's the most anticipated event of the decade - Big Lou and Fat Bob's wedding - and everyone is invited! But the relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Domineering Irene is set to return for a two-month stay, consigning young Bertie to a summer camp. Not content with that, she somehow manages to come between the enigmatic nun, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, and her friend, the hagiographer, Antonia Collie.

And can a person really change, even after being struck by lightning? Bruce Anderson's metamorphosis and new-found outlook on life is put to the test as he prepares to leave his creature comforts for the monastic simplicity of Pluscarden Abbey. His house sitter, meanwhile, gets a little too comfortable in his new life and discovers that his talented employer's shoes are all too easy to slip into. With great taste comes great responsibility.

Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh's New Town."

On of my mom's favorite series. It would have been her favorite if not for Hamish Macbeth.

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg
Published by: 47north
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 300 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One man is on a journey to unravel his magical lineage in the next spellbinding novel of the Whimbrel House series by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Thanks to house tamer Hulda Larkin, the mischief infesting Whimbrel House has calmed. But if Hulda's job is done, what does that mean for Merritt Fernsby, inheritor of the remote Narragansett Bay estate, who's only now coming to terms with his enchanted place in the world?

Merritt has realized his own burgeoning powers, which draw the thoughts of every plant, insect, and dog. His nights are sleepless, with an uncontrollable cacophony of voices that compel a long-overdue search into his uncanny bloodline. It's not the only puzzle uniting Merritt and his ex-housekeeper, Hulda. Her friend and former employer at the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has disappeared. Hulda herself is up for the now-vacant position of institute director, and her rival for the role is a stranger who's suspiciously curious about Whimbrel House - and could have connections to an old foe.

As Merritt struggles to face his estranged family and Hulda dives into the institute's secrets, the two are brought intimately closer than ever into the mysteries of wizardry, chaos, and love."

The continuing mysteries of Whimbrel House.

Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Published by: Candlewick
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"NSK Neustadt Laureate and New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith delivers a thrilling cross-genre follow-up to the acclaimed Hearts Unbroken.

Deftly leading readers to the literary crossroads of contemporary realism and haunting mystery, Cynthia Leitich Smith revisits the world of her American Indian Youth Literature Award winner Hearts Unbroken. Halloween is near, and Hughie Wolfe is volunteering at a new rural attraction: Harvest House. He's excited to take part in the fun, spooky show - until he learns that an actor playing the vengeful spirit of an "Indian maiden," a ghost inspired by local legend, will headline. Folklore aside, unusual things have been happening at night at the crossroads near Harvest House. A creepy man is stalking teenage girls and young women, particularly Indigenous women; dogs are fretful and on edge; and wild animals are behaving strangely. While Hughie weighs how and when to speak up about the bigoted legend, he and his friends begin to investigate the crossroads and whether it might be haunted after all. As Moon rises on All Hallow's Eve, will they be able to protect themselves and their community? Gripping and evocative, Harvest House showcases a versatile storyteller at her spooky, unsettling best."

Spooky and salient. 

The Hitherto Secret Experiments of Marie Curie edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Henry Herz
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 350 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Luckily for humanity, scientist Marie Curie applied her brilliant mind and indomitable spirit to expanding the frontiers of science, but what if she had instead drifted toward the darkness?

At the cusp of between child- and adulthood, at the crossroads between science and superstition, a teen Marie Curie faces the factual and the fantastic in this fabulous collection of stories that inspire, delight, and ask the question: What if she had used her talents for diabolical purposes?

The Hitherto Secret Experiments of Marie Curie includes twenty short stories and poems by award-winning writers including New York Times bestselling authors Seanan McGuire, Scott Sigler, Jane Yolen, Alethea Kontis, and Jonathan Maberry, among others."

More Seanan McGuire folks!

Big Bad Me by Aislinn O'Loughlin
Published by: Little Island Books
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Canadian teenager Evie Wilder just found out she's a werewolf. Now her mom's gone missing, she and her sister Kate have to go into hiding, and there's not a single helpful vampire slayer to be found.

With the help of Kevin, the dorky-hot manager of the guesthouse where she and Kate lie low, Evie starts to harness her wolfish side. But Kevin seems to know a suspicious amount about vampires...

Meanwhile, animal attacks are increasing, local teens are going missing, and Evie is about to find herself at the centre of a supernatural showdown."

I mean, the title is so deliciously Buffy I can't help myself!

Amelia Aierwood - Basic Witch by Emily Hampshire
Published by: Z2 Comics
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 120 Pages
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The official patter:
"Inspired by Emily Hampshire's popular Instagram posts documenting a life at home during COVID lockdowns.

From the weirdo mind of actor, writer, and producer Emily Hampshire (Schitt's Creek, Chapelwaite, 12 Monkeys), Amelia Aierwood - Basic Witch follows the least-favorite daughter of L.A.'s most famous family of witches, the Aierwoods. Amelia's sisters have all followed in the footsteps of their prominent parents but everything Amelia does is just a little…off-brand. A late bloomer who has yet to find her calling, Amelia uses her powers for mostly mundane problems but even those lead to magical misfires. As her family's fame continues to rise, they have no choice but to exclude their bumbling black-sheep daughter from the next great chapter of the Aierwoods - reality TV! With the help of her adopted brother Spaghetti - who she accidentally turned into a yeti…long story - Amelia must carve her own path outside of her family's influence."

Who hasn't turned their brother into a yeti I ask you?

The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Published by: Candlewick
Publication Date: April 11th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 96 Pages
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The official patter:
"When plans for a ball run a-fowl, Princess Magnolia accepts the help of a valiant new hero to save her secret decorations - and the entire evening!

Princess Magnolia is at the Flower Festival prepping for the evening ball when suddenly she hears a commotion. Oh no! She isn't prepared to fight a monster or...a grumpy emu! To her surprise, a knight in shining armor comes to the rescue, but not before the princess's prized decorations are stomped on and destroyed. Luckily, the gallant Prince Valerian has his own secret identity - the Prince in Pink - and has been yearning for a chance to show off his special skills, with the help of some twinkle-twinkle and major glam. Glitter has been restored, but then the angry emu returns - with friends! Can the party heroes step up to save the day again? Expect the unexpected as this sparkling new entry in the New York Times best-selling series takes the floor with a flourish."

I love this series inclusivity, and I love this installment's emus. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Aislinn O'Loughlin, Alexander McCall Smith, Anne de Courcy, Charlie N. Holmberg, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Emily Hampshire, Marie Curie, Paterson Joseph, Peter Robinson, Shannon Hale, Vivian Conroy, Will Thomas

The Ill-Kept Oath by C.C. Aune
Published by: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Publication Date: September 27th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★
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Prudence and Josephine are the very best of friends as well as family. Therefore when Prudence heads off to London with their maiden aunt Amelia for her debut season it's no surprise that the letters fly back and forth between the cousins from the metropolis to Wiltshire. Josephine feels left behind and Prudence just wishes she were home. But Prudence knows the realities, unlike her cousin, she is penniless and therefore must make a great match. Which is complicated by what she and Josephine are about to uncover. The start of the season also coincides with Prudence's eighteenth birthday. Eighteen is a milestone birthday and she is surprised by her aunt with a box. Aunt Amelia claims it's full off nothing but rubbish but has been keeping it for Prudence as a bequest from her parents. Prudence knows next to nothing about her parents, she and her brother were orphaned at a young age, and to get a mysterious box and to be told they had a rare set of talents called the Inheritance, well, it makes her question everything she's ever known. But the box appears to be rubbish indeed, relics that are better off in the trash; an Elizabethan velvet overgown, a pair of elbow-length gauntlets missing a couple of digets, a stained wool cloak, a sword with a broken blade and a dented cross-guard, and a shining gold ring which needs repair. Despite their decrepitude Prudence keeps being drawn to them and even gets the ring repaired and takes to wearing it. She's wearing the ring in fact when her aunt agrees to accept an invitation from a Baroness Revelle. It turns out that Aunt Amelia and Lady Revelle have a history, as did Lady Revelle and Prudence's mother. Which might explain why Aunt Amelia wants to keep them apart. Lady Revelle claims to know about the ring Prudence wears as well as other things. Could Lady Revelle be the answer to the cousins' questions? Because Josephine has been dealing with magical artifacts of her own discovered in the attics of Greenbank Manor; a man's costume cut for a woman that must have belonged to her own mother as well as a pair of pistols. She's woken up more than once sporting the clothes and welding the weapons somewhere on the grounds of Greenbank. Plus, not that she likes to eavesdrop, but there's an encampment of troops in Wiltshire and she could have sworn that she heard Lieutenant Quimby talking about trolls to her father. Could all of this be related? Could magic really exist? And if so, Prudence and Josephine have been lied to by those whom they love the most and they need to know why.

Many lovers of Regency Magic were first introduced to this historical fantasy subgenre through Caroline Stevermer and Patricia C. Wrede's Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. Released in the late eighties this epistolary novel is really the go-to recommendation for this subgenre. I see why historically, but there are so many better books out there that whenever I see the recommendation to read it I instantly want to horn in on the conversation and be like, "but have you read..." and start just listing books. I can actually do it for quite awhile. But now I specifically want to say "but have you read The Ill-Kept Oath?" And then avoid shouting in someone's face that it's Jane Austen but with trolls! The non-troll reason being is that The Ill-Kept Oath has the same basic framework, two cousins who are best friends separated because one of them is having her first season and magical things start to happen which they write to each other about. I mean obviously the Regency and epistolary novels go hand in hand because of how Jane Austen herself originally wrote Sense and Sensibility, but the epistolary format has limitations. You only get access to what the characters are willing to tell their correspondent, not what else is happening in their life or what they are excluding. The Ill-Kept Oath uses an expanded epistolary form, we get letters, but we get so much more. So while this is very Sorcery and Cecelia meets Les Liaisons Dangereuses with a heavy helping of Sense and Sensibility it is so wonderfully it's own unique voice that I fell in love with it almost instantly. What's more it gave me hope in books again. A renewed love of reading. My mood is effected by what I read and for the week it took me to devour The Ill-Kept Oath I was walking on air. I had so much work to do and when I head to bed if I'm tired I will forgo reading. But it didn't matter how tired I was, I had to keep reading. I had to know more. I had to know what Lady Revelle was up to, The Ill-Kept Oath's own Marquise de Merteuil. I had to know all about what Prudence and Josephine's parents kept from them. And right there I have to call out the brilliance of this book. Often when adults keep secrets from their children in books the reasons are often lame. I mean, if it was my kid I'd totally tell them. Here it actually made sense for Amelia and Lord Middlemere to keep quiet. Of course now I can't wait to read about the fallout of that decision... Oh how I long for the sequel.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 2 comments  

Labels: C.C. Aune, Epistolary, Inheritance, Josephine Weston, Lady Revelle, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Prudence Fairfeather, Regency Magic, Sense and Sensibility, Sorcery and Cecelia, The Ill-Kept Oath, Trolls, Wiltshire