Feels more like historical fiction than fantasy - this is an Italian Renaissance inspired tale of warring families led by greed and a lust for power. It is a story of one son who has been groomed to inherit a banking empire if he can survive. Through assassins, allies and backroom deals with enemies Davico learns how to be master of his empire if he can learn who to trust. An odd artifact of his father's, a dragon's eye, will unleash a powerful ally if Davico can learn to control it. This is a vibrant world the author has created that will appeal to GAME OF THRONES and MEDICI fans. The ending leaves us to believe there will be more to come. 4 stars
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Solid and complicated mystery thriller that proves how little we really know about our parents. Cleo comes home from college to find blood on the floor, mom missing and her dad has moved out. The police are taking the case seriously but not fast enough for Cleo who begins going through her mom's stuff and taking matters into her own hands. From her parent's perspective Cleo is a mess but she is surprisingly resourceful as she delves into her mom's secret life. Not going to lie, there is a lot going on here as chapters jump from Katrina's childhood and the recent events for both Katrina and Cleo that led up to the disappearance and Cleo's search. You know what they say about the apple not falling far from the tree and Cleo proves that. Kimberly McCreight's fans as well as those of Lucy Foley, Sarah Pekkanen and Gillian Flynn will be satisfied. 4 stars
To fully understand this slim bit of virtual /oddball reality you must have spent some time in Florida. A summer of intense weather, a pandemic and the gift of a strange virtual reality headset begins to influence a ghostwriter and her family. She and her sister travel to face their estranged father who is in a coma where memories of their childhood and the judgement of her sister upends her world while Florida unravels from a massive storm. The writing swells and recedes much like the floodwater through reality and the absurd. 4 stars
Presley is in denial - she isn't falling for her co-worker best friend, she is happy for her roommate/soul sister finding love and she isn't still grieving over the loss of her mom by hanging out with her mom's childhood friend. While still working hard to find the perfect comedian to book and get promoted at her job she starts spending much more time with Susan her mom's old friend and Susan's son. Things are shifting for Presley and the earthquake is unsettling. This is a joyful look at love in all forms, female friendship of all ages and how sometimes letting your guard down is good. A love letter to making it in New York this will appeal to fans of Emily Henry's madcap romcoms and NYC stories like ROMANTIC COMEDY.
4 stars As Monica's mom is wheeled into emergency surgery she delivers some staggering news - Monica's dad is not really her dad but is instead the love of her mom's life when she lived in Cuba. The news feels even more unnerving because Monica is very pregnant and not sure about her relationship with the baby's daddy and is dealing with her emotional past with her ex-husband. When Monica and the ex track down her birth father their lives get more like the Spanish soap operas she and her mom watch and much more dangerous. A touching story of the many ripples of love and family that resonate across time and cultures. Readalikes would include FAMILIA by Lauren Rico and THE BOOK OF LOST SAINTS by Daniel Jose Older. 4 stars
A very unique way to play the "what if" game. Marsh is middle-aged and her life is coming apart at the seams so she jumps at the chance to be the contestant on a reality game show that lets you choose your best life while the world watches your every move. Peng Shepherd chose the perfect format for this novel putting the reader in the driver's seat letting them decide what path Marsh should follow. For those less adventurous you can also read it straight through with just as much enjoyment. If having your entire life dissected on global tv isn't creepy enough Marsh begins to feel something is off. This puzzle within a puzzle is something the author handles very well and readers of Matt Haig, Blake Crouch and time travel plus stories of second chances will be very happy in any timeline. 4 stars
Two campers over a decade apart go missing from a summer camp and just happen to be from the family who owns the camp. The timelines jump from the first disappearance in 1961 to the second in 1975 and is told from the camp counselors, campers, family members and one young detective on the hunt for answers. It is as much a coming of age story and family drama as it is a raw look at the haves and the have not as much. Liz Moore sends us down a quiet wooded path only to have us get lost and then deftly guides us back with another clue. Moody and atmospheric writing that will resonate with readers of coming of age outcast thrillers like WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING or Chris Whitaker's books. 4 1/2 stars
Cute romance about second chances at first love. Delphie is lucky that she is given a chance to find Mr. Right even if she doesn't know where in London he is and only has ten days to not only find him but also get him to kiss her. If she can't get the job done she really might stay dead. A fun quick read that will make you look over your shoulder for any potential soulmates but look both ways before you cross the street. Full of interesting characters worth a second look. 4 stars A young woman faced with abuse that began with her father and will continue to her future husband does the unthinkable - she joins the army posing as a man. This is a clever retelling of Mulan but the similarities to the Disney princess end there. Instead Meilin is a fierce warrior who is guided by a dragon spirit and is caught between the love of two warring princes and her desire to give into her power. With the kingdoms at war her position vacillates between political pawn or powerful warrior, honor or death if her secret is revealed and submission or freedom to be who she was meant to be.
A classic Asian story with a shot of magic and politics, this is a series that will appeal to Asian fantasy and GAME OF THRONES readers. 4 stars Orabella is a mixed race orphan whose Uncle sells off to settle gambling debts. Not having any suitors she accepts this marriage to the handsome and mysterious stranger and he whisks her away to his country estate. What she finds is not what was expected - a handful of day servants who go home at night, an eccentric family, a crumbling mansion and a life of being hand fed, escorted everywhere around the house and locked in at night. And then come the fever dreams. This book has all the elements of a classic Victorian gothic horror story in the vein of Jane Austen meets ROSEMARY'S BABY meets a dark Grimm's fairy tale. Is she a pawn of powerful men tucked away in their cursed existence soon to end up a madwoman like her sister-in-law or the sacrificial bride? 4 stars |
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