The Serpent in Heaven (Gunnie Rose #4)

The Serpent in Heaven by Charlaine Harris is the fourth book in the Gunnie Rose alternate history, western, fantasy series - this one focuses on Rose's sister Felicia. 

Felicia Karkarov is a student at the Grigori Rasputin School of magic in San Diego - capital of the Holy Russian Empire. As a relative to the tsar, Felicia is at the school not for magic but to be close in case the tsar needs a blood transfusion. In fact, her teachers do not know if she has magic.

On her way to dine with her new in-laws, Felicia is kidnapped and locked in a room. She has no idea who has nabbed her, but she plans to escape. 

Harris has created a wonderful alternative history. This is a super fun series. Check out the first one today!

Harris, Charlaine. (2022). The Serpent in Heaven. New York: Saga Press.

All This Could Be Different

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews is the story of one woman trying to make it on her own in a system that exploits immigrants. 

Graduating college during a recession, Sneha agrees to move to Milwaukee for a job as a consultant. She has little other choice as she needs a job to get a green card once her school visa expires. 

She has been in the United States most of her life. Her parents moved back to India after her father was set up to take the blame for a scam his business partner pinned on him. Since then, Sneha has been reluctant to trust anyone.

Building a life for herself, dating and living through mid-West winters, this beautifully human novel will stay in your head for a long time. 

Mathews, Sarah Thamkam. (2022). All This Could Be Different. New York: Viking.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is a story of friendship and video games. 

As a kid, Sadie Green spent a lot of time in the hospital waiting for her sister to have treatment. Sam Massur spent time in the hospital due to a series of surgeries to recover from a car accident.

Sadie and Sam met in the game room over the game Oregon Trail. They spend hours and hours together playing video games and talking. 

After losing touch, they do not see each other for years. Then one day, Sam sees Sadie in a train station in Boston. Both are in college now: Sadie studying to make video games, Sam studying math but not loving it. During the chance meeting, Sam suggests they make a game together.

What follows is the story of a lifetime of friendship and the growth of a successful video game career / company. 

Zevin captures the history of video games in this beautiful rale of friendship and love. Her writing and characters are wonderful. I will be reading her other books soon!

Zevin, Gabrielle. (2022). Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. New York: Alfred A Knoph. 

Out of the Dark (Out of the Dark #1)

Out of the Dark by David Weber is the first part of a two-part science fiction series about the invasion of Earth by an alien race called the Shongair. 

Earth is being attacked. With no warning missiles come from space and take out almost every capital in the world. All governments are shattered, no one is in charge of civil or military chains of command. 

Around the globe different people with the training to fight back start organizing a guerilla response. 

From outer orbit, the Shongair do not understand why their initial show of force has not caused all humans to surrender. Philosophies so different that they are incapable of understanding that humans will never give up. 

Weber is one of my favorite science fiction writers. This series combines his love for a space opera with a military story to rival any other. 

Weber, David. (2010). Out of the Dark. New York: Tor.

Into the Riverlands (Singing Hills Cycle #3)

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo is the third novella in the Singing Hills Cycle that follow cleric Chih on their journey.

When cleric Chih reaches the Riverlands, an area known to be rough, and sits down to lunch, there is a fight. A large man come in to cause trouble and is dispatched by a small woman with a great deal of strength and fighting skill.

Chih joins Wei Jintai and Mac Song to travel the Riverlands with and older couple who know all of the legends of the area as they travel toward the Betony Docks.

Vo has created a wonderful novella series that reads like folk tales or myth. With each installment you will become more enamored with cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant. 

Buy this series as it comes out. You will reread them over and over for years to come. 

Vo, Nghi. (2022). Into the Riverlands. New York: Tor. 

Here to Stay

Here to Stay by Sara Farizan is the story of high school jealousy leading to a racial slur. 

Bijan Majidi gets called to fill in for an empty spot on the varsity basketball team. When one of the senior players fouls out, Bijan is put in. He is a good player who is getting his chance to prove himself - but the player he is replacing blames Bijan for showing him up.

The next day everyone at school receives an email of Bijan dressed as a Jihadi. Suddenly his loyalty and Americanism is being questioned. 

Farizan is known for her wonderful characters who have to deal with the problems of being non-white in America. Her writing is beautiful, poignant and compelling, Read all of her books.

Farizan, Sara. (2018). Here to Stay. New York: Algonquin.

She Who Became the Sun (Radiant Emperor #1)

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is the first book in a retelling of Chinese history beginning in 1345.

Being a daughter in 1300s China is not easy. Having a brother who is an 8th -born son also means you have to do everything for you brother and father. 

When your father takes your brother to the fortune teller, you come along. The seer says your brother, Zhu Chongba, is destined to greatness. Since you are there, too, your fortune is told - it shows nothing. 

In a time of poverty for all but the upper class, your brother has been promised to the monastery. So, when your brother and father die and you have not food, you disguise yourself as your brother and present yourself to the monastery as him. You feel that is you do as your brother would, and keep the eye of heaven off of yourself, you can take over his destiny.

Parker-Chan has written the beginning of a brilliant series - historical fiction with a queer twist. I absolutely loved this book! If you are a fan of history, fantasy or badass female characters, read this book! (Book 2 will be out in August!)

Parker-Chan, Shelley. (2021). She Who Became the Sun. New York: Tor.