Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea (pub. May 30, 2023) by Rita Chang-Eppig is a thoughtful historical novel about life and piracy as experienced by one woman–Shek Yeung–based on the real-life pirate queen who commanded a confederation of pirates in the South China Sea in the early 1800s. As the novel opens, ShekContinue reading “Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea”

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Beautifully written, full of quotable lines, Zevin has created a story about the art of making games that also deals with grief and the heartache of the world, and how to keep making art through it all.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

I was completely enthralled by The Ten Thousand Doors of January (2019) by Alix E. Harrow from very nearly the first page. Set in the late 1800s, January is a teenager cared for by a guardian, Mr. Locke, because her father is always traveling on expeditions for him. His house is filled with wondrous thingsContinue reading “The Ten Thousand Doors of January”

The Once and Future Witches

I absolutely loved The Once and Future Witches (2020) by Alix E. Harrow! From very near the first page, I was enthralled, I marked my first quote on page 12. (Marking a quote early on is usually a very good sign.) Juniper, Agnes, and Bella are three sisters separated for many years, but they nowContinue reading “The Once and Future Witches”

The Book of Etta

The Book of Etta (2017) by Meg Elison is the second book in The Road to Nowhere series, which begins with The Book of the Unnamed Midwife. We meet Etta/ Eddy, a daughter of Nowhere, the town the Unnamed had come to after her long journey. Etta goes by Eddy when she is out raiding,Continue reading “The Book of Etta”

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (2021) by Elle Cosimano is the first installment in a widely-popular comic thriller/mystery series (the third book is expected in January 2023) in which we meet divorced mother of two, writer Finlay Donovan. After a rushed meeting with her editor, Finlay is mistaken for a hit woman, and decides toContinue reading “Finlay Donovan Is Killing It”

Operation Redwood

I read Operation Redwood (2010) by S. Terrell French as a result of one of my other book-related labors of love–being steward of a Little Free Library. I bought it with a bunch of other middle-grade and children’s books in a $7 per bag library sale, and when I was sorting, I had to putContinue reading “Operation Redwood”