A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee is a steamy queer romance. 

Elisheva Cohen left New York eight years ago when she was kicked out of her Orthodox Jewish community. She has just moved from LA to NYC for an art school program with her favorite mix media artist. She just got off of the plane and is going to meet her new roommates. She is not sure how it will feel to be back in NYC, but feels unlikely to ever visit Brooklyn again.

Luckily, her roommates turn out to be great. Though she starts class in the morning, they insist on taking her to a queer club tonight to celebrate. 

Wyatt Cole is from a North Carolina military family. He is an artist who is gaining fame, but most people don't know what he looks like. He is very private. He has been invited to teach a course on mixed media art at a prestigious NY art school. 

Lee has written a romance story with two very real-feeling characters. Both Elisheva and Wyatt have things in their past they have not completely made peace with. And both are in recovery. And when they meet at a queer dance club, they will have no idea they are about to become teacher and student...

Lee, Victoria. (2023). A Shot in the Dark. New York: Dell.

The Broken Kingdoms (Inheritance #2)

The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin is the second book in the Inheritance fantasy series. 

Oree Shoth is a blind woman who moved to the city of Shadow, located under what was formerly known as the city of Sky. Many things have changed since the chained gods have returned to power. 

While Oree cannot see even shadows, she can see magic. And in a city filled with lesser gods, this is perhaps a good skill to have. She spends her day selling things in the markets. And she is an artist. She can somehow enter a trance-like focus and paint amazing scenes. 

One day Oree finds a man in her garbage. He is alive, but barely. She takes him in. 

This second book is from a different point of view, as is the third. This view gives readers a more in-depth look at the world Jemisin has created. This series is brilliant!

Jemisin, N.K. (2010). The Broken Kingdoms. New York: Orbit.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance #1)

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin is the first book in the Inheritance series. 

Yeine Darr who grew up in a small land in the north has been summoned to Sky by her mother's father. Her grandfather is going to recognize her as an heir to the Arameri throne. 

The city of Sky is contained in a super tall tower. Anyone with Arameri blood can live in the tower, but most work as servants. Only those of the central bloodline are treated as royalty. 

The Arameri gained power generations ago when one of the three gods made a deal with the head of the family. It was at the end of the gods' war when Itempas won. He chained his brother and the lesser gods into service of the Arameri. 

Yeine, not having grown up in the midst of this, has few skills to find her way in the political battles of Sky. But after she arrives, one of the lesser gods, Sieh, the child god, befreiends her. It is not clear is this is an advantage or disadvantage for her survival.

Jemisin is possibly my very favorite writer - or at least tied for the first spot with Becky Chambers. This is her first series but does not read as such. Her ideas are completely fleshed out, her writing captivating. 

Jemisin, N.K. (2010). The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. New York: Orbit. 

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin is a feast for your eyes and will have you craving Chinese food as you read.

Tea, Eggrolls, Rice, General Tso's Chicken, Peking Duck, Chopsticks and more, all have a story of how they were developed or refined. With folk tales and family stories, Grace Lin walks us through centuries of Chinese history in this beautiful book. 

This books should be part of each library collection, to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. 

Lin, Grace. (2023). Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Bathe the Cat

Bathe the Cat by Alice McGinty is a hilarious tale of a family getting ready for a visit from grandma. 

While two dads and their kids run in circles trying to get the house presentable for a visit from grandma, the cat keeps rearranging the list - created out of refrigerator magnets.

This is a great book that should be at the top of your list for picture book gifts! All of the books by Alice McGinty are wonderful. 

McGinty, Alice. (2023). Bathe the Cat. New York: Chronicle Books.

Julian is a Mermaid

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is a beautiful picture book. 

This book about a boy and his grandmother is the tale of letting someone grow and shine in their own way. About seeing people for who they are. 

Read this beautiful book or buy it for a small loved one in your life. 

Love, Jessica. (2018). Julian is a Mermaid. New York: Candlewick Press.

Starter Villain

 

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a wonderful read! 

Charlie, the youngest of four siblings, lives in his father's house with his cat Hera. It was part of his father's will that Charlie could live there as long as necessary, then split the sale with his siblings. 

Charlie was a journalist but was laid off with most of the magazine industry. He has been substitute teaching and working at a pub to pay bills. 

Then a woman shows up on his doorstep and tells him that his uncle has died. He has not seen his uncle since he graduated from college, but if he is willing to stand for him at the funeral he will receive his inheritance. 

What Charlie doesn't know is that by standing for his uncle he is announcing that he is the heir apparent to his uncle's business. As far as Charlie knows his uncle owned parking garages. He doesn't know his uncle was a super villain and that every rival will now try to kill Charlie.

Scalzi has written a fun, quick read that will have you laughing out loud. Fans of cats will be delighted by this book.

Scalzi, John. (2023). Starter Villain. New York: Tor.