The Last Ranger

The Last Ranger by Peter Heller is about wolves in Yellowstone - or rather, how humans think of wolves and their place in the world.

Ren is a National Park Service Enforcement Ranger. He is stationed in Yellowstone outside of Cooke City, Montana. Part of why he has this job is his love of nature - from fly fishing to watching wolves, bears, goats, moose, buffalo and more as part of his daily life. 

His day consists of everything from breaking up traffic jams to saving clueless tourists from dying while taking selfies with wild animals to investigating poachers. 

Heller has a way with words. Each of his books are beautifully written, catch you on page one, and stay in your mind for a while. He is one of the most talented writers alive. Read all of his books. Definitely read this one - learn about the wolves and their place in the ecosystem, their family structure and their majesty. (Then consider donating to one of the wonderful organizations fighting to keep them alive.)

Heller, Peter. (2023). The Last Ranger. New York: Alfred A Knopf.

Killers of a Certain Age

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn is the story of a group of four female assassins who have made it to retirement - no easy feat in their field. Now someone is trying to kill them.

Recruited and trained to be assassins in the 1970s, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie are now retiring. They are the first female team since the one in the OSS during World War II. Forty years of taking out very bad people and surviving. 

For their retirement gift, they are sent on an ocean cruise. But on the very first day at sea, Billie notices someone she worked with on a job. When they search his room, they are sure - he is here to kill them.

These are not easy women to kill. Not only do they need to escape a ship at sea, but they also need to find out who gave the order and have it rescinded. 

Raybourn has written a thoroughly enjoyable story. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys mystery, thrillers, or just badass women who will not let others dictate their lives. 

Raybourn, Deanna. (2022). Killers of a Certain Age. New York: Berkeley Press. 

To Shape a Dragon's Breath (Nampeshiweisit #1)

To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose is the first book in the fantasy series.

The island of Masquapaug has not seen dragons for generations. The Anglish conquerors have their types of dragons on the mainland, but the Nampeshiwe have gone. Or at least everyone thinks that until Anequs is on the shore when she sees a huge Nampeshiwe take off from the next island. 

She goes back to tell her family. The next day she goes to the old temple to give thanks for the honor of seeing a Nampeshiwe. When she arrives, there is a dragon egg. She takes it back to the meetinghouse where everyone on Masquapaug sings, dances and tells stories to the egg while they wait for it to hatch.

Unfortunately, the Anglish have rules about dragons and who can have them. Anequs must go to school to become certified to shape a dragon's breath. Without this bond and the teachings, the fire a dragon breathes can destroy. But with the knowledge of how to work with a dragon, one can shape the breath into something magical.

Blackgoose has created a beautiful book set in the time of early colonization - when those who invaded think they know everything and are civilized. When those who already lived in the area see the invaders as brutish and shortsighted. I absolutely love this book! My only complaint is that is just came out so I will have to wait forever for the next one in the series. :-)

Blackgoose, Moniquill. (2023). To Shape a Dragon's Breath. New York: Del Rey.

The Dos and Donuts of Love

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar is about doing what you love. 

Shireen Malik has just broken up with her girlfriend. Her best friend is in Bangladesh for the summer. She works at her family's donut shop - You Drive Me Glazy.  And she is waiting to hear if she will be on a new Irish teen cooking competition. 

When she finds out she has made it on the show she is excited but scared that her ex, Chris, will also be there. 

Jaigirdar has created a lovely teen romance for fans of shows like the Great British Baking Show and fans of puns! This is a wonderful summer read. 

Jaigirdar, Adiba. The Dos and Donuts of Love. New York: Feiwel & Friends. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer is about a death doula in New York City.

Clover Brooks was raised by her grandfather from age six when her parents died. Clover was sad about her parents, but ready to leave the school where everyone thought she was weird since the day her kindergarten teacher dropped dead during storytime and she was the only kid to not run screaming from the room.

As an adult she is a death doula. Really, she spends little time with those not dying since grandfather died. She spends as much or little time with the dying to help them process anything they want to talk about before their time is up. 

She does need to process these deaths. So she does two things. She keeps journals of people regrets and last words. And she goes to Death Cafes to speak with others who have experienced a loss. 

At one of the cafes, she meets a man who wants to hire her for his grandmother. Grandmother Claudia will be different - she will make Clover want to open up to people more, make her try to face her regrets now, and make other choices. 

Brammer has written a beautiful book about relationships and using time wisely while we have it instead of putting things off that we may regret later. Read this book.

Brammer, Mikki. The Collected Regrets of Clover. New York: St. Martin's Press. 

Titanium Noir

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway is a genreblend of science fiction and detective series. 

Cal Sounder is a detective who works with the police on sensitive cases - those involving Titans. Titans are the superrich who have taken T7 therapy to expand their lives, a side effect of which is to make people extremely tall. 

When Roddy Tebbit, a professor and Titan is found dead, Cal is called. Tebbit does not fit the usual profile of a Titan but his height says he is one. How did someone on a professor salary pay for the ridiculously expensive therapy? Why did Stefan Tonfemecasca, the man who controls the technology and who gets to use it, allow Tebbit to become a Titan?

Harkaway has created a moody noir setting in both the underbelly of the city and in the supertalls where the Titans live. This is a great combination of noir and science fiction. Fun read!

Harkaway, Nick. (2023). Titanium Noir. New York: Knopf.

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler is a memoir of growing up queer and mixed race in the US.

Using fascinating sea creatures Imbler teaches us about life in the oceans, lakes and rivers while equating their behavior to times in their life. 

Beginning with the amazing ability of the goldfish to survive inhospitable waters from a dirty bowl to wild lakes and rivers; including the selflessness of an octopus guarding and awaiting the hatching of her eggs; to a swarm equated to the flood of queer New Yorkers during pride, Imbler has written a unique yet universal story of growing up.

This is beautiful memoir. Read it.

Imbler, Sabrina. (2022). How Far the Light Reaches. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.