Review: The Address by Fiona Davis

Title: The Address
Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: August 2017
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Do you ever check out a book from the library on a whim and then end up so pleasantly surprised by the story that you can't believe your good luck? That was me with The Address; I saw the cover on Libby, my favorite library borrowing app, and immediately checked it out, even though I knew little of the story. I'm familiar with Fiona Davis for writing historical fiction centered around architectural landmarks, but I haven't read one before. Now, my TBR is filled with her books and I can't wait to read more.

The Address focuses on The Dakota, the famed New York City apartment house overlooking Central Park. Following dual timelines, the first heroine we meet is Sara Smythe, an Englishwoman running a luxury hotel in London who takes a chance managing an apartment house, then a very new concept, in New York, offered to her by an architect staying in her hotel who rewards her for saving his daughter from an accident. Sara is smart and capable, but shamed by her background of being the daughter of a housekeeper who had an affair with her noble master. Seeking a fresh start, Sara crosses the Atlantic and arrives in New York with no idea of what her job would be. Unlike today, The Dakota of the 1800's was located in what was considered the middle of nowhere, away from the center of the city. It was a haven for the up and coming members of society who were making their own fortunes instead of inheriting legacies. I loved Davis' description of the building and the location. I've seen it in person but it was lovely to imagine how it must have looked when it was surrounded by near-wilderness.

The Dakota in the 19th century

Meanwhile, we fast forward to 1980's New York, also a fascinating time, and meet Bailey Camden, a recovering alcoholic and interior designer who is trying to get back on her feet after leaving rehab. Her "cousin" Melinda, so-called because Bailey's grandfather was raised as a ward by Melinda's great-grandparents, is the descendent the same architect who offered Sara Smythe that job so many years ago, and Melinda has since inherited an apartment in the Dakota. Melinda tasks Bailey with redecorating it, 80's style, and Bailey is allowed to live there while she reluctantly takes down all of the historical detail and charm in order to please Melinda. While there, Bailey makes friends with one of the older residents who relates to her the history of the building, and with the super, who aids Bailey in her search to research the history of the Camdens. While going through old trunks in the apartment storage, Bailey uncovers secrets that may change her fate and shed light on what happened to Sara Smythe.

In Bailey's world, the Dakota is famed for being the site where John Lennon was killed

This story ticks all the boxes for me: there's history, there's flawed female leads, and there's a murder mystery. Sara Smythe, who we have gotten to know in the past, is infamous in Bailey's time for murdering the architect Camden; what series of events lead this level-headed, ambitious woman to murder a man she seems to idealize? How is Bailey connected to a hundred year old mystery? There are also cameos from 19th century figures to look forward to, as well as a few plot twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I was all in for the ride no matter how wild it got, so I recommend going into this book without research too much what it is about. Throughout it all, Davis manages to capture both the glitz and glamour as well as the dark underbelly of both time periods that this story includes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the storytelling style, the alternating timelines, and the way both women's stories wove together. Now please excuse me while I read all of Fiona Davis' backlist and pre-order her 2019 release, The Chelsea Girls.

Review: Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok

Title: Spectacle
Author: Jodie Lynn Zdrok
Genre: YA/Historical/Fantasy/Mystery
Release Date: February 2019
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Spectacle is an atmospheric YA debut that promises thrills and horror and, fortunately, the story delivers; set in 1887 Paris, we begin the story following Nathalie, a 16-year-old burgeoning reporter who is tasked with writing the morgue report for Le Petit Journal. While visiting the morgue, which is open to the public, to research her daily article, Nathalie finds herself supernaturally entangled in a mystery of a serial killer, and discovers she may possess unique gifts that could help the police unmask the murderer. Aided by her best friend Simone and a cute young investigator, Nathalie puts her journalism skills and her unique gifts to work in unraveling a gruesome mystery.

Throughout the book, Zdrok does an excellent job capturing the morbid fascination with true crime that was as true in the 19th century as it is today. In Nathalie's world, Parisians view corpses at the morgue with their toddlers in tow, visit wax museums depicting scenes of murder victims, and enjoy celebratory drinks after watching a public execution. Even though this book takes place in the summer, it has a very eerie vibe and the setting really drew me into the story with its cafés, cabarets, and catacombs.

There were def some Penny Dreadful vibes

In addition to the time period and the setting, I also really enjoyed being in Nathalie's head; she's smart and rational, so I wasn't constantly yelling at her like I find myself doing so often with mystery books. I also loved that Nathalie actually had friends who were fully developed and had their own lives, only adding to the realism of her world, and her parents really added to the story instead of fading into the background, which I find happens all too often in YA novels. I don't want to discuss too much of the plot in this review in order to avoid spoilers, but I thought there actually were a good amount of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I almost didn't trust a single person throughout the story, especially due to the elements of mysterious magic, missing memories, and visits to the insane asylum (I'm telling you, this book has it all). At times, the middle of the book was paced a bit slow, but it quickly picked up and sucked me back in.

I found this debut to be an excellent read that I would recommend to lovers of historical mysteries (I read all of the Lady Julia Grey books, so I'm the target audience) who also enjoy fantasy and horror elements thrown in as well. This is kind of a dark read with some gruesome details, but to me that adds to its appeal. I hope there are more books planned set in this world, because I'm dying to find out more!

Note: I received a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me this copy!

Review: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Title: The Night Tiger
Author: Yangsze Choo
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: February 2019
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Last year, I discovered my favorite under-the-radar read, The Ghost Bride, which came out in 2013 and told a spellbinding story of a beautiful girl in Malacca, Malaya who is betrothed to a dead man, and the trials she must endure to avoid becoming a ghost bride and creating the life she truly wants. I finished the book in something like two days and I immediately searched for other works by the author, but was extremely disappointed to find out it was her debut and, only, book. 

Fast forward to seeing The Night Tiger on NetGalley a few months ago. I immediately cheered, added it on Goodreads and requested it, crossing my fingers that I would get approved. Now, here I am having finished, again in about two days, and I'm awestruck by this author once more. Similarly to The Ghost Bride, Choo's latest work intertwines folklore, myth, and magic with the everyday trials of grief, feeling like one's fate is out of one's hands, and examining the gender inequality so present in society. Taking place in a different Malaya location, mostly in Ipoh and Batu Gajah, during the early 1930's, the setting is a beautifully bittersweet rendering of a country that sees the blend of so many rich cultures side by side with the careful grip of colonialism. 

In this setting, we meet Ji Lin, a smart, clever girl whose name corresponds with the virtue of wisdom, even if at times she feels she is always doing the wrong thing. Ji Lin loved academics and longed to study medicine, but her family forbid it due to her gender, and instead she is relegated to apprenticing at a dress shop and earning extra money as a "dance instructor" at a dance hall, the May Flower. In 1930's Malaya, working in a dance hall is seen as being very unbecoming and lowers her status, but Ji Lin enjoys the female friendship and it's the only way she can make enough money to help cover for her mother's secret gambling debts. Ji Lin grew up along side Shin, (or xin, the the virtue of faithfulness) her stepbrother, and they were always close, even sharing a birthday, until they finished school and Shin left home to pursue the career in medicine that Ji Lin so desperately wanted.

The Ghost Bride, 2013

Running parallel to Ji Lin's struggles, we meet Ren, who is a possibly ten or eleven year old trying to pass for "almost thirteen", an orphan whose twin brother died years ago. Ren, an extremely competent houseboy, is on a mission to fulfill the dying wish of his former master, which was to be buried with his missing finger so that he could pass into the afterlife as a complete person. Ren, clever and determined and honestly the highlight of this book, goes to work for a new master, a doctor like his previous one, in the town where Shin happens to be working as an orderly. 

In the background of the private struggles of each character is a possible man-eating tiger who may not be a man or a tiger completely, but some fearsome combination of both. Add to this a magical blend of ghosts, premonitions, and dreams that feel "like stories unfolding", and you can almost picture the perfection that is The Night Tiger. Drawing from folklore and mythology combined with beautifully evocative writing, I'm glad that Choo took her time with this manuscript because the finished work has turned out to be one of my favorite books (once again!) that will stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend preordering this book, and even though I received an e-ARC of it, I'll probably end up purchasing it as well. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but I feel this is the type of story I will want to read and re-read and get more out of it with each reading. If you love historical fiction, settings that are often not written about historically, and a blend of magic and ghost story, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Between the Devil and the Duke by Kelly Bowen

Title: Between the Devil and the Duke

Author: Kelly Bowen

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: January 2017

RITA Category: Historical Romance - Long
Rating: 4/5 stars

This was my first Kelly Bowen historical, and I was pleasantly surprised! I try not to read too much about a book's plot before picking it up, and I was immediately drawn into the story of Angelique Archer, a noble lady whose family has fallen on extremely hard times, forcing her to use her quick mind to win card games and support the family with her gambling winnings. Angelique loves math and focuses on ensuring her family's home isn't lost and that her younger brother's can continue their education. I immediately liked her, and that she was smart, capable, and understood how she struggled with asking for help, as it meant that she had to admit that she was in trouble. I also liked the hero, Alexander Lavoie, the owner of the club where Angelique plays, who is impressed by her skills with cards and wants to hire her as the first dealer for his club. His offer could solve her problems, as she would have a steady income. However, as a lady she is hesitant to accept a job, and her instant attraction to Lavoie only complicates matters. 

I loved the chemistry between Alexander and Angelique, and romances where at least one character is a commoner is kind of my catnip, so I loved that this book didn't have the typical duke hero, despite the title. I became pretty invested in the characters, both good and bad; I literally screamed whenever Angelique's loser brother would squander their money or do something stupid, and the twist at the end of the book had me gasping. It was a fun, engrossing read that featured a few elements of intrigue that I thought made it a bit more exciting that a typical historical romance. There is definitely a mystery element to the story, thanks to cameos from some of the characters from the previous books in this series, which I now have to go back and read because I have to find out how those characters ended up together.

Between the Devil and the Duke is a good read if you want something different than the more traditional historical romance. The writing is snappy, the characters are well developed, and the romance itself is pretty steamy. Alexander is the type of hero that appeals to me; he's kind of a bad boy, but not really, and he's looking for a woman to be his equal rather than a damsel in distress. If you're looking for a quick-paced historical romance that has a nice mystery woven into the romance, I would definitely recommend this book!

What I Read: January Wrap-Up

Young Adult

  

 

 

I accidentally read so much YA in January! And, for the most part, I enjoyed pretty much all of them. A Line in the Dark made for the perfect page-turner airplane read when I was flying back from a vacation in Florida on the January first. I love Lo's writing, the unreliable narrator, and the mystery of the story. I read a couple ARCs that aren't out yet, and both I would highly recommend! The Way You Make Me Feel is an awesome contemporary romance that also focuses on female friendship, father-daughter bonds, and finding identity. Meanwhile, Emergency Contact, by Mary H.K. Choi, is a slow-burning character study and sort-of romance about a college freshman named Penny and a young man she meets named Sam. It totally brought me back to my college days with how intense relationships could feel at the time, and the whole awkward transition from a high school teen to somewhat older but much more independent teen in college. If I were you, I would definitely pre-order it! Olivia Twist is another upcoming release that is a gender-swap of the classic tale of Oliver Twist, except Olivia is a young lady trying her best to leave her past life on the streets behind her, until she reconnects with the Artful Dodger. I don't know about you, and maybe this is a booknerd thing, but I always theorized that the Artful Dodger was super hot and this book only supports that theory. It's a fun historical that's plot-driven and a fast read.

Lastly, I finally got around to The Last Namsara, which I had checked out from the library and kept renewing because I didn't have time to get to it yet. The book initially appealed to me because there are dragons, and I did enjoy it, but it wasn't my favorite YA fantasy that I've read recently. The writing was pretty good and the world was intriguing, however I felt that both the world and the characters could have been fleshed out more. Overall, though, a solid debut. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo left me feeling similarly; I loved the mythology behind it (based on Chinese myths, in particular the Monkey King) and I thought the concept would have made for an awesome urban fantasy TV show. However, I just didn't connect with the writing style. It was a little too tongue in cheek for my taste, but I think readers who enjoy snarky urban fantasy would really like it.

Graphic Novels

 

I was in the mood for graphic novels in January, and I picked these up because my favorite kind of graphic novels is the sort that is sad, slice of life, and introspective. These pretty much fit the bill! Spinning follows the author's journey from a child figure skater to professional artist, and each chapter was broken down into a different skating move. I liked the simple art and was really drawn into the story. I'm Not Here is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've seen in a long time. I loved every panel, and gg's style really resonated with me. It's sad, and short, and a good re-read.

Non-Fiction

 

Alison Weir's Queens of the Conquest was an excellent narrative history of the queens of England following the Norman conquest. It brought me back to my undergrad days (I majored in history with a focus on medieval England), and I was pleasantly surprised how much I remembered about the many queens named Maud. It was a good read, and I think she has more books in this vein coming out soon. Braving the Wilderness, meanwhile, was not my favorite. In fact, I kind of hated it and the saving grace was that it was short. I know everyone loves Brown, and I think she sounds like a really nice person who does put forth some ideas that can be helpful to people, but I just could not connect with it and I found myself ranting out loud quite a bit while reading this one.

Historical Fiction

This book was sooooo good! It was kind of a slow start, but basically it traces a fictionalized version of the life of Aemilia Bassano, who is often credited as the first woman in England to publish poetry for profit. The story follows her childhood, which was marked with tragedy but also encouraged in her a passion for the arts and for learning, up through her days as a courtesan, then wife, mistress, and eventual widow. I loved Mary Sharratt's writing, and there were some awesome moments of Elizabethan female empowerment going on that made me cheer. Sharratt has another historical fiction coming out soon called Ecstasy that I am 100% going to check out.

What I'm Reading Next....

Currently, I'm reading Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri as part of my Around the Year in 52 Books challenge. I also started and am slowly reading Mary Oliver's essay collection, Upstream: selected essays. I have a few ARCs downloaded from NetGalley that I want to start soon, and I also have a few other reading challenges that I'm working on. Overall, we'll see what I'm in the mood for in February. I'm thinking lots of romance.

What are you looking forward to reading in February? 

Happy Reading!

Review: The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford

Title: The Darkness Knows

Author: Cheryl Honigford

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: August 2016

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

Although I’m not a big mystery reader, I am a big fan of 1930’s film noir and detective stories, so when I learned about The Darkness Knows, which centers on a radio star in 1938 Chicago solving a mystery, I knew I had to pick it up. If you’re a fan of old-school detective stories but yearn for a female lead, this book does not disappoint. Vivian Witchell, a rising star at a Chicago radio station, is trying to make it in the industry and find independence from her life of wealth and privilege. Meanwhile, a murder, a mysterious fan note, and a handsome P.I. interrupt her career path and turn her into a makeshift sleuth. Vivian works with Charlie Haverman, the P.I. consultant on her detective serial radio show, to solve the murder of a well-known but not well-liked colleague at the radio station. In an industry where would-be stars will do anything to get ahead, there seem to be enemies everywhere, but Vivian is smart, capable, and observant, making her an excellent amateur sleuth. I also appreciated that Vivian wasn’t a prude or judgemental about sex, which I always enjoy in a leading character.  

Besides Vivian’s plucky attitude and strong personality, I also enjoyed Charlie’s character. He’s tough, but is willing to listen to Vivian’s feedback and ideas. He also appreciates that she’s a modern woman and not looking to dumb herself down to appeal to a man, and he has the tough guy appeal without coming off as an alphahole. I found him to be an appealing lead, and was rooting for him and Vivian to get together in the end. This book, the first in a series, is subtitled a Viv and Charlie Mystery, so hopefully I can look forward to future sleuthing with this likeable pair.

In addition to the well-written leads, the side characters were also a lot of fun to read about. There were some of the stereotypical noir-ish characters, but I enjoy that; the femme fatale, the dashing but fame-obsessed male lead, and everyone has a mysterious past. I did think that Viv’s best friend, Imogene, could have gotten a little more screen time and been fleshed out more. She seemed like an important part of Viv’s life, but we barely got to know her. This book does take place over a relatively short period of time, however, so that may be why.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere of 1930’s Chicago really came through in the storytelling. The author clearly did her research, and you could easily visualize the places that the characters visited. If you are a fan of The Thin Man series or any late 1930’s films, you could easily picture the clothing and the glitzy nightclubs, plus the seedy Chicago backstreets as well. Chicago played a big role in the appeal of the story, and the reader is rooted in that era throughout the story. Overall, this lends a light, escapist tone to The Darkness Knows, and I could easily see this being developed into a television show a la Miss Fisher’s Mysteries.

As far as the mystery aspect goes, I admit that I haven’t read a lot of mysteries (unless you count Nancy Drew books as a child), so maybe I’m a little easier to please than die-hard mystery fans. There were some good twists to the mystery, and good pacing to keep the excitement level up, but I did think that the mystery would have been much simpler to solve if a few characters (not naming names) had spoken up and connected the dots a bit earlier. Plus, Vivian seemed to be telling everyone anything and maybe shouldn’t have revealed all of her cards to so many people. It seems like more could have been done to complicate the mystery while still making it believable and readable. Still, any flaws with the mystery aspect didn’t take away from how much fun I had reading this story. If you need a book that is escapist and engrossing, I definitely recommend The Darkness Knows, and look forward to reading the second installment at the end of the year!

Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Title: The Bear and the Nightingale
Author: Katherine Arden
Genre: Historical/Fantasy
Release Date: January 2017
Rating: 5/5 Stars 

One of my favorite areas of study when working on my history undergrad was medieval Russia. Russia has a medieval period so unlike the rest of Europe, having been settled largely by Scandinavian invaders who took over the land from the native Slavic population. Meanwhile, influences from the Byzantine Empire and the Mongols permeate throughout medieval Russian culture. Plus, the political system of sons inheriting the title of Grand Prince, and the super complicated familial murders that occurred because of this system, make it a fascinating area of study. Russian folklore, meanwhile, is full of dark, creepy creatures that are at home in the wintery landscape. Debut novel The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden manages to capture this world, wavering between the real and the unreal, as well as creating memorable, likeable characters and a compelling plotline.

Taking place during the reign of Ivan II, the Fair (1353 - 1359) and his subsequent death, this story follows the lives of a lord’s family living on a remote estate surrounded by forest. Pyotr, the patriarch of the family, married Marina, a half sister of Ivan II, whose mother was a mysterious but beautiful child of the woods. They have a healthy brood of children (three sons and a girl) when the youngest member of the family, Vasilisa, or Vasya, is born. Marina longs for a magical daughter to live in her mother’s image, and claims that Vasya is that promised daughter. Pyotr would prefer to have his wife rather than a magical daughter, but he’s a good father and dedicated to his family so he supports Marina’s decision to have this baby even if it risks her life. From there, Arden weaves a spellbinding tale following Vasya throughout her girlhood into womanhood, as her connection with the magic of the land grows alongside the religious fervor building in the nearby village.

Much of the magic throughout the book will be familiar to readers of folklore and fairy tales, but you may encounter new words for some of these supernatural creatures. There are rusalkas, forest guardian spirits, vampires, and a cast of spirits of the hearth that guard homes and stables. These creatures live in an invisible plane that most mortals cannot see, unless you are born with the sign. Surprise, surprise, our heroine possesses the sight, but she’s not the only one, and not all possessors of this gift view it as a positive power. The magic in Vasya’s world feels very real, making this book border on fantasy and magical realism in my reading. The idea of magic in the medieval world is a fascinating one; most believed it to be real, an explanation for what could not be seen, and a companion to the answers provided by Christianity.

Throughout the book, we grow up with Vasya as she faces different challenges, and she is supported by her brother Alyosha, and the magical spirits that she defends. Since Vasya is a girl throughout most of the book, I've seen some call this Young Adult but I don't think it really falls into that category at all. I don’t want to explain too much about the plot in order to avoid spoilers, but the overall feeling this book gave me was hands-down five stars. The writing casts a spell over the reader, compelling you to keep turning the pages in order to stay in this beautifully rendered world. When I came to the end of the book, I almost didn’t have any words and it took me a little while to formulate my review. I think that this would appeal to readers of magical realism works, like The Night Circus, as well as historical fiction lovers. It also reminded me a bit of The Book of Speculation, which also features Eastern European folklore, but I thought that this book executed its plot much better. A wonderful new release to start of 2017!