Seduction by Brenda Joyce

Review by Jerelyn H. (I-F-Letty)

I had read all of Brenda Joyce’s mysteries and loved them, and was happy to get a chance to read one of her historical novels.  Ms Joyce truly is a journeyman writer of romantic fiction in its many genres.  I was immediately captured by the characters, Charles/Dominic and Julianne and their families.  This is my first 5 star of the year I started it after dinner and finished it by breakfast, which is always a good sign.

Seduction takes you on quite a ride.  Set during in the summer of 1793, you meet the Greystoke family of Cornwall in particular Julianne the youngest sister.  Intelligent and well read, a devotee of Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man, she is one of those in England caught up in the romance of the French Revolution.  Enamored with the humanitarian values the Revolutionaries espoused.  She is helped along in these beliefs by her radical leaning friend and hopeful suitor, Tom with whom she has started a correspondence society with revolutionaries in Paris.  While innocent in their inception these societies were dangerous clearing houses for information and a useful tool for spies.

When her brothers suddenly appear with a horribly wounded man, who they say they think is a smuggler, and wish for her to tend until they can get back.  Julianne is left in the dark as to his real identity, and left to make her own conclusions.  While in a raving fever Charles/Dominic speaks only in French and cries out a revolutionary slogan, and relives much of the horror he has seen, all this leads Julianne to think his is a wounded soldier of the revolution and that if her family finds out whom he really is they will turn him into the local authorities.  So begins a very interesting and page turning story that I found to be very well researched and true to the time period.

There is a group of writers that write a more historically accurate romance which borders on historical fiction, Ms. Joyce explains this in the afterward.  For me I like my historical romances to be well researched when speaking of actual events, getting the facts straight as she delves a little deeper into the politics of the time and the mindset of the characters in this book.  When dealing with spies and especially people who have lost everything and forced to run for their lives, nothing is black and white, Ms. Joyce deals with this beautifully and it was never boring, the love story was understandably complicated,  but there was no doubt that whatever happened it was meant to be.

I am glad to recommend this book and I thank the publishers and the folks at Net Galley where I obtained my copy. Seduction will be released February 2012.

The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

Review by Susan R. (Sue-in-AZ)

Story Synopsis

This story follows a few years in the life of Lilith, a young girl in Jamaica in the late 1700’s early 1800’s.  Lilith is a slave on a sugar plantation. Her mother died as Lilith was born, and she has no idea of who her father might be. But everyone else around her knows exactly who her father is, and it’s clear from the start of the story that her father is white.

Lilith is taken under the wing of Homer – an older woman who runs the house.  Homer does the best she can to take care of Lilith, but being a slave herself, there is only so much that Homer can do for Lilith.  And Homer has many secrets that she half reveals to Lilith. As time goes by, Homer’s secrets paint a picture of the tragedy of her own life. And the clear comparison is that Lilith’s life will be the same tragedy all over again.

As Lilith grows up, she catches the eye of both the plantation owner and the overseer – with purely disastrous results.  There is a great deal of conflict between Lilith, the plantation owner, the plantation owner’s fiancé, and the overseer.  As the slave in this situation, Lilith bears the very vicious and brutal brunt of this entire conflict.

Overarching all the personal relationships is the state of slave relationships in Jamaica specifically and in the Caribbean in general.  Stories of previous slave revolts and the consequences are told throughout the story.  It’s very clear that Jamaica is well overdue for another slave revolt, and sure enough our characters are caught up right in the middle of impending events.

My Review

Not for the faint of heart!  This book includes extremely graphic and violent descriptions of slave life.

Having said that, this is a very compelling story.  All of the characters are extremely sympathetic.  The story is told from Lilith’s point of view, so you see everything through her eyes. And she takes us on a journey through the horrors of life as a slave.

Throughout the story, Lilith’s loyalties are divided between the slave women who’ve done their best to take care of her, and the white men (her father and her lover are both white) that she tries not to care for. In the end she is forced to make her choice and live with the consequences.

Guardians of Ga’Hoole Series by Kathryn Lasky

Review by Jennifer (mywolfalways)

There’s something about the hidden lives of animals that sparks the imagination.  Over the years many authors have used animals to create worlds that would not be possible with human or human-like characters.  Lasky creates an imaginative world with a dedication to providing accurate information to the various species of owl, along with a cast of inspirational characters.

In book 1 of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, The Capture, the reader meets Soren, the middle chick in a clutch of three.  Inspired by the stories told to him every night by his Da, Soren decides that he will discover where the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, the heroes of the Owl world, reside and become one himself.  His dreams are cut short, however, when he is kidnapped from his nest and taken to a terrible place called St. Aggie’s, an academy for “orphaned” owls.  The books follow Soren’s escape from St. Aggie’s, his search for the Great Ga’Hoole tree, his training, his friendships, and the battles against the enemy.

Book 7, The Hatchling, leaves Soren to follow Nyroc, Soren’s nephew.  Breaking free from his abusive mother, he seeks to escape her reputation and become his own person.  While Soren’s battles were more to do with enemies and the hostile environment, Nyroc has to face many internal struggles and outside prejudice.  His perseverance through the difficult journey to find freedom is an inspiration that many will find relatable.

Books 9 thru 11 are a prequel trilogy that tells the tale of Hoole, the founder of the Ga’Hoole, his upbringing, the origin of the Ember, and his taking of the crown.  Often an author is not given the opportunity to tell readers about the origins of the world they create, so these were a delightful treat.

Book 12, The Golden Tree,  returns to Soren, Coryn, and the familiar cast of characters.  They search out new lands to seek alliances with owls and other animals, including wolves and polar bears.  These alliances come into play as they face the new threat of the Hagsfiend, a creature of myth and dark magic that has come to destroy Owldom as they know it.

Even though the series is listed for readers of age “9 and up” many of situations and events that take place are intense.  While not detailed, they can be unnerving.  The antagonists in the series utilize brain-washing techniques and they are regularly abusive.  Many other difficult subjects come up, such as manipulation, crowd mentality, peer pressure, censorship, and even pacifism in the midst of war.  I feel that this series is great for both young and old alike.

Highborn by Yvonne Navarro

Review by Barbara S. (barbsis)

Not at all what I expected.  The story had a kind of “pay it forward” feel.

Highborn fallen angel Astarte was a very successful demon for many years, finally escaped Hell and in an effort to be reinstated in Heaven, is trying to turn over a new leaf.  As a human Astarte has taken a human sounding name, Brynna Malak but she has no ID, no home, no friends and no money.  She did retain her angel “psychic” ability as well as her demon strength and other demon capabilities which she must keep under wraps so that Lucifer and his minions don’t find and kill her.

Almost immediately Brynna comes to the attention of Chicago PD detective Eran Redmong and though he is suspicious of her (no ID, no residence etc), he’s also fascinated by her.  Brynna is a “tough girl” and survives by stopping petty criminals thereby earning the loyalty of those she saves.  (Hence the earlier pay it forward comment.) She isn’t out looking for trouble but no matter where she is or what she does, it finds her.  Brynna thinks this is divine will or fate so she just follows her angelic instincts.   This is sort of a rambling “day in the life” tale with Brynna stumbling through with the occasional help of Eran.

Chicago has a serial killer targeting nephilim (of course, the police don’t know this tidbit) on the loose with seemingly no connection between the victims.  Eran is hoping that Brynna can help him and though she is aware of the baddie, for her own reasons, she isn’t giving the cops that information.  Once the various demons enter the picture it gets harder for Brynna to keep relevant details from Eran.  The fun part is trying to convince him that she is telling the truth.

I liked this series starter though it’s slow start took real effort to get through.  Brynna is an intriguing character and it will be interesting to see how her “human” growth progresses and if her efforts are enough to appease an angry God.  And I wonder if after experiencing a human existence and having a lover, Astarte will actually want her just reward or if she will decide to remain in this new life.

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Unlikely Friendships: 50 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom

by Jennifer S. Holland

Review by McGuffyAnn M. (nightprose)

I fully believe animals have much to offer to each other, and to humans, in many ways. We can learn from them. This book illustrates this fact.

Jennifer Holland has captured 47 truly incredible stories of bonds between animals. These are stories of true, heartfelt connections. Accompanying each story is amazing photography of the animals showing their bond.

Some of these unlikely friendships are those between a cat and a lizard, a monkey and a dove, a dog and a fish, and even a friendship between a pit bull, cat and baby chicks!

Most people have heard the classic story of Koko, the 230 pound gorilla who had been taught sign language. It was a surprise when she signed that she wanted a pet kitten. Koko’s favorite stories were “Puss in Boots” and “The Three Little Kitten’s”. For Koko’s birthday, she was allowed to choose her pick of a litter of kittens. She chose a tail-less grey kitten, who she named “All Ball”. Koko then treated him as a mother gorilla would her own infant. The entire story is beautifully recounted in this book.

I am reminded of my dog, Maisie, a Shetland Sheepdog. In her 16+ years, Maisie was surrogate mother to many kittens and bunnies that I rescued. We called her “Auntie Maisie”.  She did everything for them, but feed them. It made no difference to her that they were not puppies (or that she was spayed). She was patient and loving, and she knew that was what they needed.

Auntie Maisie, photo by McGuffyAnn

That is the theme of this book: love and the connection that it offers. Love goes beyond species and breed. It is the common thread of life, holding us all together. The need for love is universal, promoting growth, healing and well-being.

Each and every story here will leave you feeling refreshed, restored, and renewed. Yes, indeed, we have much to learn from the animal kingdom, if we only would watch from our heart and listen with our soul.

This book is for all ages, all people, and one to be enjoyed through the ages, again and again. There should be sequels. This is a very special book.

Young Maisie Grace, photo by McGuffyAnn

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review by Susan R. (Sue-in-AZ)

Story Synopsis

This book tells the story of two generations of an Indian family in America. The first generation are immigrants, the second generation is born and raised in America.  This is a classic American story of the generation gap compounded by a cultural gap between parents and children.

The story primarily follows Gogol Ganguli, the son of Indian immigrants.  The cultural gap between Gogol and his parents start when he is only days old.  The hospital will not allow the Ganguli’s to take their new son home without a birth certificate – which must include a name.  But the Indian tradition is to give children a pet name until they are older and can be given their real name – usually when they are old enough to start school.  The parents solve their dilemma by agreeing to assign the pet name to the birth certificate, with plans to change the name later.  They fail to change Gogol’s name, leaving him to change it himself once he’s old enough.  The contrast between his birth name and his chosen name highlights the cultural conflict through the rest of the book.

The story follows the sometimes dual life that Gogol leads – Indian at home and American everywhere else.  As a young adult, he is clearly searching for an American family to attach himself to.  Events in his family lead him to try to live a more traditional Indian lifestyle.  Both efforts lead to mixed success. Finally near the end of the story, Gogol has found some peace within himself, shown in the book as a willingness to live alone.

The book also shows a smoother path for Gogol’s younger sister, who has the benefit of parents who’ve learned many things the hard way with the older son.  The lives of the immigrant parents are also depicted with sympathy and understanding.  It’s impossible to not fall in love with this family.

My Review

This book was extremely well-written. The author is a former Pultizer Prize winner, and her talent shines in this book.

The story of children being more American than their immigrant parents has played out with many nationalities throughout American history.  In this case, the immigrants are from India.  They make the classic immigrant choice of helping to build their own Indian community, and their friendships and associations revolve around that community.

With the parents often baffled by American culture, the children are sometimes required to figure things out on their own.  In this case, the parents are loving and supportive, but in many ways unable to help Gogol find his way.  Gogol does the best he can, making decisions that veer from great to disastrous.

I really enjoyed this book.  I work with a large number of Indians at work – most of whom have moved here as adults. Books like these help me understand and appreciate their situation and point of view.

Circle of Enemies by Harry Connolly

Review by Bowden P. (Trey)

Circle of Enemies opens with something that seems like a bad dream – an old friend appears to Ray in his rinky apartment to tell him “You killed me. You killed Arne, and Lenard, and Ty, and all the others, too. We’re all going to die because we knew you.” Then she hits him. Normally, this is something one could write off as a nightmare. But since Ray is up to his eyes in the Twenty Palaces Society and that bad dream leaves behind physical evidence before disappearing, Ray heads to LA to help (he doesn’t want the Twenty Palace Society aimed at people he cares about) and discovers things he wishes he didn’t.

Circle of Enemies takes Ray back to his familiar LA stomping grounds from when he was a car thief and re-acquaints him with his old friends. The only problem is, its no longer clear on whether they’re his friends any more. A few are trying to go legit, others have doubled down on the criminal life style. And it looks like most of them have a predator involved as well…

Initially, I couldn’t make up my mind about this one. Circle of Enemies gives Ray a lot more depth. It even gives some more to Annalise, though it seems to have her do a volte-face that almost feels out of character – right up until you remember her history as a sorcerer’s toy. It also gives us much more information on magic, spell books (less books and more dreams), the Twenty Palaces society and predators. It also gives us someone that’s literally a mass of symbiotic predators. And while I enjoyed the information, it seemed to remove some of the mystery. There’s an additional twist as well – since Ray has been so successful, the Twenty Palaces want to replicate his capabilities with other Wooden Men. Making them much less disposable – not thugs or terminal cases, more along the lines of elite soldiers. And Ray gets to meet the first test case.

Still, Connolly writes some great action scenes and I swear Ray should have been a fire fighter or policeman from the way he puts his butt on the line to save folks. And those folks – instead of random small town Americans, these are people Ray knows and cares about. And sometimes they’re killers. And sometimes they’re both. The fact the people involved are ones that care about Ray, or used to, gives it a different weight and impact as the events play out.

I liked the story. Its a nice change of pace away from small towns and begins to fill in Ray’s back story with more details. I didn’t like that its beginning to get kind of repetitive in how things play out. Given the stakes, I don’t doubt the Twenty Palaces wouldn’t hesitate to put anything in the field to contain a predator or put magic away. But I’d almost like to see smoother sailing for Ray and Annalise. Still, a well written tragedy does have its place.

How much did I like it? Four stars.

Likes: Filling in Ray’s story; More about the Twenty Palaces; The other characters; Learning more about magic and where it comes from.

Dislikes: Its beginning to get a bit repetitive; Grim fates for folks who aren’t Ray.

Suggested for: Fans of the Dresden files, Stross’ Laundry series (The Atrocity Archives, The Jennifer Morgue and The Fuller Memorandum), Kadrey’s Sandman Slim and horror fans in general.