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After a while, though, things will fall into place: Reviewing Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Hey everyone! I’m back again! I love being able to give you all back-to-back reviews. I have been sitting on this particular book for a while now. I know most people read Kindred in high school or undergrad, but I hadn’t read any books by Octavia E. Butler before so I had been looking forward to this one for a while. I won’t ramble on much longer. Let’s talk about Kindred.

Content Warning: Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Self-Harm and Suicide, Harsh Language and Slurs, Historically Accurate Depictions of Slavery, Sexual Assault

Dana was living her ordinary life in 1976 with her husband. Suddenly, she is pulled through time from her home in California to the antebellum South. She ends up saving the life of Rufus, the white son of a wealthy plantation owner. Soon, Dana finds herself repeatedly drawn back in time to save Rufus. In the past, Dana took it upon herself to save as many of the slaves as she could while trying to convince Rufus to break the cycle of violence on his father’s plantation. As each stay grows longer and more dangerous, Dana begins to worry that she might not make it out alive.

I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read an Octavia Butler book. I have been missing out. This was such an intense and exceptional story that was far ahead of its time. Butler takes an unflinching look at the realities of slavery in the antebellum South and the undeniable impact that history has had on the present day. It was a difficult read, but only in the sense that the prose is visceral and can be hard to confront, but that is Butler’s purpose. Not many historical novels confront that brutality of the past in such an eloquent way, but Butler does so. There is so much to be about this book, but I think you are better off experiencing it for yourself. If you haven’t read this one in school, then read Kindred because you need to.

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So I should compose my own history, should I? Or it will be lost forever: Reviewing The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I have some exciting life changes coming up soon. I also have a never-ending TBR pile to finish so that is my fault. Before I begin this review, I encourage you to read my other reviews of Natalie Haynes’ books. She has quickly become one of my favorites in the Greek myth – retelling genre. With that being said, let’s talk about The Children of Jocasta.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm and Suicide, Disturbing Imagery, Death of a Child/Stillbirth

When Jocasta was fifteen, her parents forced her to marry the king of Thebes. She spent years praying that she might outlive her largely absent husband. When a handsome young man named Oedipus appears at her palace with news of her husband’s death, Jocasta is relieved. She, however, realizes she has a much greater challenge to face. Fifteen years later, Jocasta’s youngest daughter Ismene is nearly killed in the palace. She thought that she had finally found peace after her parents’ deaths, but now she must deal with a conspiracy against her family. Despite decades apart, mother and daughter must face the inevitable tragic fall of the house of Oedipus.

Natalie Haynes continues to impress me with her clever re-telling of myths that most people know by heart at this point. While she doesn’t entirely dismiss the classic tragedy of Oedipus, she puts a twist on it that has more logic but is nonetheless a sad story of a family torn apart by rumors. Haynes does not just take on Oedipus’ story, but Antigone’s as well. These two stories told from different perspectives provide a unique and engaging experience. While the novel embraces the classic tropes that surround Greek tragedies, it offers just a bit of hope that most of the stories sorely lack. Natalie Haynes has delivered yet another compelling narrative and I cannot recommend her novels enough to anyone interested in Greek mythology.

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Love does that. It changes you in ways that cannot be undone: Reviewing The Mermaid by Christina Henry

Hi everyone! I am back much sooner than I anticipated. This is not the first book I have read by Christina Henry. Feel free to check out my review of Horseman, which I loved. I wanted to delve back into the world of “fairy tales for adults,” so to say. I also don’t see enough books about mermaids for adults so I grabbed this one immediately. I think mermaids are an underrated subject for fiction. I am definitely interested in reading more so leave any reccomendations in the comments below. Now, we can talk about The Mermaid.

Content Warning: Violence, Animal Abuse, Mild Sexual Content

Amelia was a mermaid who was curious about life on land. When she came to the land, she met a man named Jack and fell in love. Years later, Jack passed away and Amelia was left with nothing but her isolated cottage by the sea. One day, she recieved an offer from the famous P.T. Barnum to perform at his museum. With no other options, Amelia decided to take his offer. Thrown headfirst into the chaotic world of humanity, Amelia must find the courage to take control of her life before someone takes control for her.

The Mermaid is a nice mixture of romance and fantasy with just a hint of realism. Christina Henry weaves in conversations about autonomy, consent, and persepective into this romantic tale of a woman trying to find her place in a strange world. I liked how Henry crafted Amelia’s perspective, particularly in regards to the culture of “sideshows” that were popular during the 1800s. The romance was well-written and I liked how it became the focal point without taking away from the meaninful themes that are explored throughout the book. Overall, The Mermaid was a thoughtful and gripping novel with plenty of fantasy and romance to keep you from putting the book down.

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Doubt that truth be a liar; but never doubt that I love: Reviewing Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I am going to do something I never thought I would: shamelessly e-beg! I have had this blog for many years and I thought that I would make it work for me. You are more than welcome to completely ignore the little donation box (or whatever you call it) at the end of this blog. If you do choose to show your support to me, I will be forever grateful to you. If no one touches it, I’ll take the hint and never try this again. I appreciate your support no matter what. Now, let’s talk about Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.

Content Warning: Some Sexual Content, Grief and Mourning, Death of a Child, Some Violence

Agnes is an unsual young woman who spends her days taming her falcon and wandering through the forests that surround her family’s property. Her life is changed when she meets a young Latin tutor who loves her for her wildness. After a hasty marriage, they move to Stratford-Upon-Avon where Agnes become a doting mother and devoted wife. Her life is changed forever when the Black Death strikes her home. Now, Agnes must come to terms with tragedy while her husband is away and running a theater company. Agnes is determined to find a way back to her husband, to find closure once and for all.

While Hamnet is not the kind of book I ususally read, I do have a deep love for the play Hamlet. Maggie O’Farrell offers a compelling, heart-breaking take on the origin of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Agnes (technically Anne Hathway, Shakespeare’s real-life wife) is a such unique and relatable character. The book covers quite a bit of ground in following Agnes and her husband’s relationship from the beginning, but it does so with good pacing. O’Farrell does a fantastic job creating atmosphere and exploring all of the minute details of the world that would be otherwise overlooked. While Shakespeare is still a presence in the book, he does not overshadow any of the events that Agnes experiences. Maggie O’Farrell does a great job with balancing the book’s driving plot while taking time to explore the characters’ inner turmoil. Hamnet is a great book for those who love historical fiction and want something that tugs at the heart strings as any one of Shakespeare’s tragedies.

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It is a terrible and unholy thing to behold: Reviewing Eynhallow by Tim McGregor

Hey everyone! I’m back again! I hope you didn’t miss me too much in between reviews. This book was short so I figured that this would tie everyone over until I post one of my longer reviews. I started my first Brandon Sanderson book so that is going to take me a bit to get through. I used to love really long books but my attention span has shifted over the years. I have been wanting to get back into books that are 500 or more pages. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading novellas. Now, let’s talk about this novella, Eynhallow.

Content Warning: Domestic Abuse, Traumatic Childbirth, Death due to Traumatic Childbirth, Murder, Cannibalism, Some Sexual Content, Harsh Language

Agnes Tulloch lives a sad existence on the tiny island of Eynhallow. Her husband is a terrible man and she is struggling to raise her four young children. The quiet island is thrown into chaos when a wealthy stranger arrives on the island. His motives for arriving are unknown, which worries the islanders. Agnes is hired by the stranger to clean his cottage and bring him dinner. Despite her reservations, Agnes finds herself drawn to the enigmatic, amateur scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Where Frankenstein goes, death follows and Agnes is caught in the middle.

I have probably said this before but I’ll say it again: I am a huge fan of Frankenstein. It was a major part of my Master’s studies and I have re-read it several times. It goes without saying, then, that I was immediately drawn to this novella. I absolutely loved Tim McGregor’s take on Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror. McGregor captures the unsettling yet compelling atmosphere that Shelley had so well crafted. I particularly liked Agnes’ perspective in this book as it shows just how terrifying and fascinating both Frankenstein and his creature were. I could do a whole five-page analysis on this book, honestly. It was also a truly tragic tale that I couldn’t look away from. You see the characters’ tragic fates from a mile away but you can’t look away and I thought that was a testament to McGregor’s understanding of Frankenstein. I desperately need other people to read this book. It is good on its own but you’ll appreciate it more if you are familiar with Frankenstein. Go read it immediately. You won’t regret it.

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The living are often anchors for the dead: Reviewing The Deep by Alma Katsu

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m doing my best to keep my reviews coming at a steady pace. I’m also realizing that I might have to rearrange my bookshelves yet again. Every year or so, I like to switch up how my bookshelves look. They aren’t super cute or aesthetic by any means but they are set up just the way I like them for now. I might organize by color next time for my standalone books but we will see how much effort I feel like putting into re-organizing everything. Now, enough of that. Let’s talk about The Deep by Alma Katsu.

Content Warning: Death of a Child, Distressing Imagery, Some Violence, Sexual Content

In 1912, a young Irish woman named Annie Hebbley was hired as a stewardess aboard the HMHS Titanic. Despite the glamor of the remarkable ship, something sinister is attacking the guests. Annie and a few others try to investigate what’s happening but tragedy strikes. Annie manages to survive the sinking of the Titanic and retreats to an asylum. Four years later, Annie’s friend and fellow survivor, Violet Jessop, offers her a position as a nurse on board the Titanic‘s sister ship, the Britannic, which has been converted to a hospital ship in the wake of World War One. While on the ship, Annie crosses paths with Mark Fletcher whom she had met on the Titanic. The two are forced to relive the tragedy they had survived and confront the demons that have come back to haunt them from their pasts.

Maybe some of you reading this review have or had some sort of fascination with the sinking of the Titanic and, if so, then this book is for you. The Deep is a rich mixture of drama, suspense, mystery, and horror. This is a bit of a slow burn but even the parts that don’t really touch on the supernatural elements are still interesting. Once the novel picks up pace, it becomes difficult to put down. Every character is well fleshed-out and the subplots blend seamlessly. This novel utilizes a mix of real-life figures and characters created for this book. I did some light research because I was curious and it seems Alma Katsu did keep true to history. This was a very fun and compelling read. I am absolutely going to recommend this, especially if you want a unique historical fiction novel.

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Shared danger is the strongest of bonds: Reviewing The Temple of Fortuna (Book 3 of the Wolf Den Trilogy) by Elodie Harper

Hi everyone! I hope you are all still doing well. Before you read this review, read my reviews for the first two books in the series, The Wolf Den and The House with the Golden Door. I am very excited to wrap up this series with you. I mostly plan on reading standalone books but I might start another series. I’ve been getting some good recommendations via the Internet that I hope to share with you all in the future. For now, let’s talk about the third and final book in The Wolf Den trilogy, The Temple of Fortuna.

Content Warning: Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Abuse, Mild Sexual Content, Some Violence, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery

Amara has fought and bargained her way from the brothel known as the Wolf Den to being an upper-class courtesan to a powerful Roman politician. Her life is far from happy, though, as her daughter and the man she truly loves live in Pompeii. Amara decides to visit her family, torn between the life she has fought for and the life she wants. She is still in danger of her secrets being revealed by her former master. Just as Amara thinks the worst of the danger has passed, Vesuvius erupts. Amara must use her survival skills to save her family from her dangerous past and an uncertain future.

This third and final installment of The Wolf Den trilogy wraps up Amara’s story in a satisfying, albeit sad way. Being that the story was set in Pompeii, I was curious if Elodie Harper was going to include the explosion of Vesuvius. Even though it is a large part of the book, it doesn’t overshadow the carefully crafted interpersonal drama and heartfelt relationships that Elodie Harper pays such great attention to. I appreciate how honestly Harper depicts the various struggles of her female characters. It is hard to find truly complex female characters but Elodie Harper delivers that throughout this trilogy. I can find very few weak points in this series as a whole. Each book holds up as its own with plenty of rich historical accuracy and compelling characters. If you are looking for an exciting novel, look no further than the Wolf Den trilogy.

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To fear, to hope, and to desire once more: Reviewing Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

Hello everyone! Yes, I am back sooner than ever with a review. It is sweltering where I live, so I am not motivated to leave the house. I’ve also had some downtime at work so I steal chances to read. I’ve mentioned it before but I tend to read fast. It’s a skill I developed at a young age. Before anyone wonders, this novel is inspired by Greek mythology but not about Greek mythology. I know I read a lot of Greek myth books. If you like those, then stick around for this. It’s time to talk about Pandora.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Graphic Injury, Graphic Death, Abuse, Animal Death

Dora Blake is an aspiring jeweler living in the antique shop that is run by her resentful uncle. The once respectable shop had fallen into disrepair since Dora’s parents died and is mostly used by her uncle to sell cheap forgeries. One day, a large Greek vase is delivered to the shop and it is unlike anything Dora had ever seen. She also notices her uncle behaving strangely and decides to investigate. She seeks the help of aspiring antiquities scholar Edward Lawrence to find out what makes this vase so important. The vase, as it turns out, is the key to finding out what really happened to Dora’s family. As Dora and Edward continue their investigation, they quickly discover secrets that change their lives forever.

This book fits squarely in my Venn Diagram of interests, falling in between “Victorian England” and “Greek Mythology.” I may come across as biased in this review but I did truly enjoy this fast-paced, enticing novel. Susan Stokes-Chapman blends together mystery, drama, and a little bit of romance in this clever retelling of the myth of Pandora. Only this time, I like what I found when I opened this metaphorical box. The book was well-paced and the mystery at the heart of it was handled well. This is definitely a good summer read that will keep you hanging on until the very end.

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Live like your head is on fire: Reviewing She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker – Chan

Hello everyone! I’m back much sooner than I thought I would be. I try to pace myself while reading but I read faster with the more invested I get. You know how it is: you get to a point in a book where you just have to know what happens next or how it ends. I’ve been pretty lucky and haven’t had any DNFs yet. It’s very rare I don’t finish a book because, even if I don’t like it, I probably still want to talk about it. Thankfully, that is not the case this time around so let’s talk about She Who Became the Sun.

Content Warning: Graphic Violence, Graphic Bodily Injury, Harsh Language, Graphic Sexual Content

In 1345, a girl learns that she has no notable fate. Her brother, on the other hand, is destined for greatness. When her brother and father die after bandits invade her home, the girl seizes an opportunity. She takes her on her brother’s identity, Zhu Chongba and becomes a monk. Under the guise of a man, Zhu finds her place at the abbot until one fateful day when it is destroyed by an infamous general who wants nothing but vengeance. Still seeking greatness and now revenge, Zhu joins a rebel army known as the Red Turbans and quickly rises up in the ranks. With her very fate at stake, Zhu Chongba must take the greatest risk of her life in order to secure her place in history.

I love an epic tale of heroism and She Who Became the Sun absolutely fulfills that genre. I love the mix of history, fantasy, and drama that Shelley Parker – Chan blends into this novels. It had a sweeping scope, while still moving a steady pace. I am no expert on Chinese history but I did a brief bit of research on this book because it is loosely based off of real events and found the real story just as fascinating as Parker – Chan’s take on history. I also loved how wonderfully complex all of the characters were and the intense emotions that flow through the writing. Zhu Chongba is a fantastic main character who you can’t help but root for throughout the story. I am so glad that I read She Who Became the Sun and you should read it too.

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There is always a price to pay for underestimating a woman: Reviewing The House with the Golden Door (Book 2 of the Wolf Den trilogy) by Elodie Harper

Hello everyone! I hope you are making significant progress in whatever endeavors you are currently working on. Before I begin, I do recommend that you check out my review of the first book in the series. This is also another good read for women’s history month if that is your goal. If you are interested, then let’s talk about The House with the Golden Door.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Slavery, Some Violence, Some Sexual Content, Scenes of Childbirth

After everything she has been through, Amara has finally freed herself from her life in the Wolf’s Den. She should be content with her new life but she is aware that her patron is not the man she thought he was. Amara’s past begins to catch up to her when her former master continues to pursue her. With this dangerous and cruel man threatening to destroy her life, Amara must become just as calculated and shrewd in order to maintain her freedom. Amara must learn to let go of the past, even if it hurts if she wants to secure her future as a freedwoman.

While this was a bit slower-paced than the previous novel, Elodie Harper still does an excellent job creating intrigue and worthwhile drama that will keep you hanging on. I do genuinely appreciate how complex and imperfect and sympathetic Amara and all of the other characters are portrayed. I also appreciate how the book doesn’t try to keep you hooked on sex and violence, but still uses those plot points to create a strong plot. I do have some knowledge of Ancient Rome so I greatly appreciated the accuracy that Harper imbues in her writing, particularly when it comes to the treatment of women in Rome. Overall, I thought this was a strong sequel in the well-crafted trilogy and I look forward to the third book (which is coming out later this year, I believe).