The Last Wizard's Ball (Gunnie Rose #6)

The Last Wizard's Ball by Charlaine Harris is the sixth book in her alternate history / wester / magic series about a gunslinger in a very different old west.

Lizbeth Rose's sister Felicia attends the Grand Wizards' Ball, and as one of the most powerful - and beautiful - death wizards in a generation, she is highly sought after as one of the belles of the ball.

However, war and violence are on the rise in Europe as German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia . . . and some are refusing to take no for an answer.

As the façade of genteel wizard society turns deadly, Lizbeth must learn to not only protect her sister, but also navigate the arcane world that is pulling her sister and husband into a dangerous dance with death that could change the world as they know it.

Harris has written another addictive series! 

The Oleander Sword (Burning Kingdoms #2)

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri is the second book in the Burning Kingdoms fantasy series. 

The prophecy of the nameless god - the words that declared Malini the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa - has proven a blessing and curse. She is determined to claim the throne that fate offered her. But even with the strength of the rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.

The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya's blood. Thrice born priestess, Elder of Ahiranya, Priya's dream is to see her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is slowly spreading through all living things. But she doesn't yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.

Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya's souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And they soon realize that coming together is the only way to save their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn - even if it will cost them.

Suri has created a cast of strong women who are fighting back. This is a good second book in a series. Yes, there is war, but it is also forwards the character paths and leaves readers on edge for what comes next.

Suri, Tasha. (2022). The Oleander Sword. New York: Orbit.

The Jasmine Throne (Burning Kingdoms #1)

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is the first book in her Burning Kingdoms series. 

Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
 
The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent’s household and cleaning Malini’s chambers.
 
When Malini witnesses Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess desperate to save her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze.

Suri has created a great fantasy world filled with magic, political intrigue, and a story of revenge.

Suri, Tasha. (2021). The Jasmine Throne. New York: Orbit.

The Gods Below (Hollow Covenant #1)

The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart is the first book in her Hollow Covenant fantasy series. 

After the world was shattered, a man went down to the realm of the gods near the center of the planet. Most gods ignored him, but Kluehnn made a deal. He would restore the kingdoms to lush, plentiful lands. But he would also change the people to be better for the planet.

Harara and Rasha are sisters. They are on their own since their mother and grandmother died. Hakara dives for fish and abalone to eat and sell. Rasha is only nine. But the restoration is coming soon - a wall of darkness that will transform some people into altered. Others will disappear forever. 

In the next kingdom of Langzu the land is dying. The people hold onto their ways. The rich hording wealth and the rest just trying to survive. 

Told from different points of view, Stewart introduces us to her world. This is GREAT fantasy book. Put it on your reading list and wait impatiently with me for the next book!

Stewart, Andrea. (2024). The Gods Below. New York: Orbit.

The Vaster Wilds

 

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff is a look at life for women in the American colonies.

A servant girl has escaped from a starving colony. The colony is so destitute that there is no wood left to burn or food to eat. She thinks she has a better chance of surviving in the wilds that in a place that where people will do anything to make it through winter.

She has planned ahead and stolen a knife, an ax, books, a cup, a flint and two covers and wears all of the clothing she could fit on her body. 

She will try to make it in the wilderness - living off of the land and hiding from those sent to find her while avoiding the nations of the land and dangerous animals. 

Lauren Groff is one of the great writers of our time. She captures the feelings and harshness of the land while making readers root for a likely doomed young woman. This is a masterpiece of evocative writing. 

Groff, Lauren. (2023). The Vaster Wilds. New York: Riverhead Books. 

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. 

Deserter (Kris Longknife #2)

Deserter by Mike Shepherd is the second book in the Kris Longknife science fiction series. 

Kris is back on the planet of Wardhaven putting a new ship through its tests when she gets a call saying that Tom has been taken. He was on vacation on a cruise halfway across the galaxy. 

Taking leave for a week, Kris - along with her bodyguard and the new dresser her mother hired when Kris's grandfather became king, making Kris a princess - race to a far off planet to rescue Tom. All of which may be a trap.

Mike Shepherd has created a great character in a fun space opera series. I will be reading them all. 

Shepherd, Mike. (2004). Deserter. New York: Ace Books.

The White Lady

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear is another example of her amazing storytelling! If you don't yet know her work, seek it out today at your local bookstore or library.

Elinor White was born in Belgium. She was ten when the Germans invaded. Her father left to join the army. Elinor, along with her older sister and mother were just moments late to escape by train. Now they will try to ride out the war without being noticed by the soldiers. 

Then one day Isabelle comes to their door. She wants the three of them to go on a picnic above the train tracks. And while there count the number of trains and their details. The Germans will likely overlook three women on a hill trying to make the most of the day.

In 1947, Elinor is now living in an estate in the English countryside - in a home given to her for her service as a spy in both world wars. She keeps to herself. But when she sees the young couple down the lane being harassed by to men from London, she feels the need to get involved.

Winspear's words will pull you in within the first page and take you on a thoughtful, suspenseful read. She is one of my favorite authors. 

Winspear, Jacqueline. (2022). The White Lady. New York: Harper. 

Mutineer (Kris Longknife #1)

Mutineer by Mike Shephard is the first book in the science fiction series featuring Kris Longknife. 

Born into the Longknife legacy – daughter to the planet’s Prime Minister and granddaughter to two war heroes – Kris has chosen another path. She will not run for office like her father and brother. She is joining the Space Navy of the Society of Humanity as an ensign. No special favors from on high like those who refer to her family as “those Longknifes would expect of her. 

And it looks like maybe she is getting all the worst assignments in the Navy. Her first deployment being a hostage rescue in a cabin that makes Fort Knox look like a piggy bank. 

Shephard’s first in the Kris Longknife series is a great space opera. I will be reading the entire series (currently twenty volumes). 

Shephard, Mike. (2021). Mutineer. New York: Ace Books

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. 

The Stone Sky (Broken Earth Trilogy #3)

The Stone Sky is the final book in NK Jemisin's amazing Broken Earth trilogy.

There are two factions who don't know they are about to meet at the battle for the Earth - either to save it from the instability it has been experiencing or to end it for good.

Essun is traveling north, the opposite direction from where her daughter Nassun was taken. She has been fighting to catch up since the Season started. Things keep getting in the way. Not that travel of any kind is easy during a Season.

Nassun isn't where her mother thinks she is anymore anyway. She is on her way to the place where she can use her newly controlled magic to change the world that thinks she is evil for having magic at all. 

In this explosive finally, Jemisin reminds us that she is not only an amazing writer, but a vastly creative mind. Read this series. Read everything N.K. Jemison ever writes!

Jemisin, N.K. (2017). The Stone Sky. New York: Orbit.

The Unspoken Name (Serpent Gates #1)

The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood is the first book in the Serpent Gates YA fantasy series.

Csorwe lives at the Shrine of the Unspoken. She is about to be the latest sacrifice to the god of her homeland. Every fourteen years a young woman is given to the god. 

A month before her date, a pilgrim comes to the temple and requests a prophesy from the god. Csorwe is the conduit for this. Sethennai is asking about the Reliquary of Pentravesse, a legendary item that allowed Pentravesse to live in harmony with his god. Usually being tied to a god, and using the magic they emit, is very hard on the human body, most magicians dying young.

When Csorwe gets to the temple a month later, Sethennai offers her another way. If she comes with him, he will teach her languages, fighting and more. He thinks she can eventually help him win his city back from the man who usurped him.

Larkwood has started a great young adult fantasy series. Csorwe is a strong character who learns a lot about herself in this first book. She also falls in love and risks all to save the woman she loves.

Larkwood, AK. (2020). The Unspoken Name. New York: Tor.

Matrix

Matrix by Lauren Groff is about a twelfth century young woman, half-sister to the Queen of England, who was exiled to an abbey to live among the nuns.

Marie, half-sister to Queen Eleanor, only spent half a year at court when Eleanor sent to her live at an abbey in the county - far from court. 

When Marie arrived, at seventeen years old, the abbey was a poor and gloomy place. Born in the north of France, orphaned, moved to court and then exiled, Marie knew little of religion when she arrived at the abbey. 

Over time, Marie will learn to love the abbey, the sisters, and her life. As she is promoted, she does what she can to strengthen the abbey. She changes rules as she goes until she has a fortress of safety in a time when women had few safe places in the world.

Though not interested in the time period, Groff's excellent story telling had me right away. This is a story based on a real historical figure in early England / France. A woman who had a great influence on her community and country.

Groff, Lauren. (2021). Matrix. New York: Riverhead Books.

Red Hood

Red Hood by Elana K Arnold is a retelling of Little Red Ridinghood. In this version, the wolves are the ones in danger.

Bisou lives with her grandmother in the woods near Seattle. She has lived there since her grandmother came and got her in Canada after her mother was killed.

As Bisou is walking home after a school dance, a wolf attacks her. It is the biggest wolf she has ever heard of. But it does not harm her. She manages to evade and then kill the wolf. 

When her grandmother figures out what happened, she has a story to tell Bisou. One about boys and how they can become wolves, endangering the young women around them.

Arnold has written a very readable, important book for all teen girls. 

Arnold, Elana. (2021). Red Hood. New York: Balzer and Bray.

Not Here to Be Liked

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach is a high school struggle to balance being yourself and still get what you want.

Eliza Quan is the managing editor of her high school paper. Each year there is a staff election to pick the Editor in Chief. Eliza is sure she is going to be chosen as she is the most qualified and the only one running.

But when she gets to the election, Len a boy who usually sits in the corner and does not get involved other than to turn in articles about sports, announces he is running too. 

It turns out that while the staff respects Eliza, they like Len better. 

When Eliza writes an op ed about her loss, feminism, and why he was the wrong choice - an article that was never meant to be published but someone finds and post it - a wave of protests spread through the school.

Quach has written a compelling story that contains many important issued not often covered in YA. Great read.

Quach, Michelle. (2021). Not Here to Be Liked. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall is the story of a pirate and an aristocrat falling in love in the midst of a kidnapping.

Lady Evelyn Hasegawa has been betrothed to a man across the sea. It is not uncommon for the upper classes to marry off daughters to secure their fortune. It is, however, so far away that she is unlikely to ever see her family or her city again. But the only person she is likely to miss is her maid.

Evelyn is taking a passenger ship across the sea to meet her husband. As is tradition in these cases, she has packed her belongings into a coffin for transport, signifying her pledge to remain there for her lifetime.

What Evelyn and the other passengers do not know if that their passenger ship is really a pirate ship in disguise. They are all likely to be sold at the end of the voyage.

The pirate Florian does what it takes to survive - including changing their gender presentation to get by on a male only ship. But due to this, they have been assigned to guard the Lady Evelyn to keep her from harm (so her price is higher). 

Tokuda-Hall has written a great fantasy adventure with wonderful, fantastical creatures, budding young love, and pirates! What more could you need. 

Tokuda-Hall, Maggie. (2020). The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea. New York: Candlewick Press.

The Rose Code

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is about the women who broke codes for England during World War II and the person who betrayed them.

Bletchley Park recruited from anyone who might be able to help break codes - mathematicians, puzzle aficionados, men and women.

Three code breakers who were inseparable during the war are brought back together in 1947 when one of them receives a coded message in the mail - using a cypher they used to pass notes during the war. 

Osla, a German speaker is a debutante who dated Prince Phillip. Mab is from Shoreditch and took a secretarial course to get out and help her family. Beth is a master at crosswords and seeing patterns.

They are called to crack one more code - one that will save the lives of two of them. 

Quinn is a storytelling mage. Her historical fiction puts the reader right in the thick of it. Choose any of her books and you will be up well past your bedtime thoroughly engrossed.

Quinn, Kate. (2021). The Rose Code. New York: William Morrow.  

The Forest of Vanishing Stars

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is the story of survival in the greatest of odds. 

Stolen from a wealthy German couple, Yona is raised in the forest by an old woman. Jerusza teaches her how to survive on what the land provides, how to avoid other people, and how to kill if necessary.

In 941, Jerusza dies, leaving Yona alone. While she stay away from the villages on the edges of the forest, she is starting to encounter more people in the woods. After a while she decides to intervene to help a family of three who will not make it without some guidance on how to live in the forest. 

They tell her of the Nazis and their abhorrent attempt to kill all Jewish people. Yona decides to help the Jews refugees who escape from the ghettos and make it to her forest.  

Harmel is a master of historical fiction story telling. This is an amazing book with a strong lead character whom we could all learn something from. 

Harmel, Kristin. (2021). The Forest of Vanishing Stars. New York: Gallery Books.

A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1)

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine is the first book in the Teixcalaan science fiction series. 

Mahit Dzmare is being sent from Lsel Station, a nation that exists in outer space on mining vessels, to the hungry empire of Teixcalaan - a political entity known for subsuming anyone who lives too close. 

Mahit was called with no notice to be ambassador. She doesn't know what happened to the previous ambassador Yskandr. She does have what is common in Lsel - an implant in her brain stem that allows her to access his knowledge. This is how whey pass knowledge on to the next generation. Unfortunately, Yskandr has not been back to update the information so she has no way of knowing the situation she is walking into.

When she arrives at the city-planet at the center of Emperor Six Direction's rule, she finds that Yskandr is dead. Her assigned liaison has trained her whole life to serve an ambassador, but Mahit is not sure who to trust. Three Seagrass has no idea what happened before her promotion but is willing to join Mahit in finding out - even if that means risking her life to do so.

This first book in the series is engaging, filled with political intrigue, confusion of the new ambassador, rumblings of a revolt against the emperor - everything a space opera should be and more. If you are a science fiction fan, read this!  

Martine, Arkady. (2019). A Memory Called Empire. New York: Tor.

The Consequences of Fear (Maisie Dobbs #16)

The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear is her sixteenth book featuring the amazing Maisie Dobbs, private detective and psychologist. London, October 1941.

Freddie Hackett, a boy who runs messages through the blackout, witnesses a murder during a bombing raid. He then delivers his message to the same man he saw stab someone.

When the police do not believe him, Freddie goes to Maisie Dobb's office. He has run messages for her for her war work and knows she solves crimes. 

Winspear is a masterful writer whose research (including within her family history) makes for scenes in which you can feel the bombs drop. If you like mystery, historical fiction or just damn well written books, read this series. 

Winspear, Jacqueline. (2021). The Consequences of Fear. New York: Harper.