The Second Breakfast Club

A Multifandom Blog

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SBC Book Club : Paladin's Hope

Title: Paladin's Hope Author: T. Kingfisher Genre: Fantasy/Romantasy

Goodreads Summary :

Piper is a lich-doctor, a physician who works among the dead, determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's a peaceful, if solitary profession…until the day when he's called to the river to examine the latest in a series of mysterious bodies, mangled by some unknown force. Galen is a paladin of a dead god, lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the web of the mysterious killer, it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them. He's just not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all…

Review :

It's round three of the Saints of Steel series! And this one was... interesting. We have a very lovely gay romance that squishes the horror movie Saw into the middle, which... is weird. This book is a little weird. but T. Kingfisher, who also writes plenty of horror, is also a little weird, and it does track.

I liked this one, enjoyed this one, there were parts of this one that truly had my heart. But I don't know if I can say I loved this one like I did with the first in the series.

The main couple, Piper (the lich-doctor) and Galen (the paladin) are amazing characters. I think one of the elements of the book that really worked for me is this romance, and how their differing personalities kind of work with each other. And it's another one of those awkward romances, where they're trying to figure things out amidst insanity. I do think the ending sequence went on a little too long, and it felt, idk, unnecessarily complicated for the sake of tacking on an additional seventy pages. But I liked both of them, and enjoyed their romance and banter.

Btw - I love T. Kingfisher's sense of humor. She, again, out does herself with some truly wonderful and memorable lines in this book.

The background story starts out with trying to figure out why murders are happening and puts them in a giant maze, death trap. And I think that's the oddest part of the novel for me. While I usually do like when romances happen within a bigger scope of a story, this one felt a little disjointed. For one, I had a hard time picturing said death trap prison -- in that I'm sure Kingfisher could fully see this thing in her head, I just struggled with it. For two, I don't know that the plot as interesting as the characters. And for three, the pacing felt wonky, and the beats of the story didn't fully flow with the beats of the romance story and, really, disjointed is the best way to describe it.

Still -- the ending packs a punch, and I'm super curious to see if Kingfisher is really going to dig into some lore, because I feel like a little more worldbuilding would help with this series.

But it's a testament to how wonderful the characters are that really sells this series. It's a good book and a good read, and I'm still really enjoying myself with these.

Rating : 4 Stars

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SBC Book Club : Assassin's Quest

Title: Assassin's Quest Author: Robin Hobb Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads Summary :

King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz--or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest--perhaps to death. Only Verity's return--or the heir his princess carries--can save the Six Duchies.

Review :

The thing about this series is that it's leading me to have more complex feelings than what I normally have for these reviews. I have a lot of thoughts -- which I think leads me to the fact that I'm engaging with this series in a way that I'm not with a lot of the more leisurely books I pick up. I think it's also a statement to Robin Hobb's writing that there's a lot of complexity within her books (not to mention that this book is 800+ pages long).

But I guess, here's my thing. I read this book one chapter at a time, and I think that was the best way (for me) to engage with it. I know there's criticism that this book is too long and too much at times, and I don't know that I fully disagree with that? But it reminds me of watching an entire season of a television show. Were all the chapters necessary? No, not really. But did it make the experience more lively? Yes - it did. Especially when read in an episodic way.

The plot of this one is kind of thin when you write it down. Fitz is out to end now King Regal -- because revenge, and goes on a lengthy journey to find his Uncle Verity to save the kingdom. That's... it.

But there's a lot of character work going on. Yes -- a majority of this book is traveling and walking and conversations and introspection. Yes, there is a bit of the action that is left through telepathic connections and inferred because this book stays firmly in first person and close to its main character. And yes, while the first two books had more political drama involved, this one is even more about character development.

But I think it's a richly told story. I think Fitz's journey, while bittersweet, shows a lot of growth and I found it incredibly engaging. It's not always happy and Fitz makes a lot of mistakes, but I also find him very human and I think it works.

The other characters are pretty well drawn, too. I think there's some great stuff here for Verity, Kettricken, The Fool and Nighteyes. I enjoyed Kettle as a new character. (Little indifferent about Starling) And I'm happy that Burrich and Molly were off on their own (not really caring for Molly from the previous book). I will say -- I did miss Patience and Chade though. I hope the series isn't entirely done with them.

I do feel like antagonists felt a little underdeveloped, but I don't necessarily think they were the point, just the catalyst for why the characters were doing what they were doing. And the Red Ship development felt really limited. I don't know that I wanted or needed more, but the major conflict of the books felt like it took a backseat to the character journey.

I also understand the criticism of how it ends. The ending itself works, and ties up loose ends as it should. I felt satisfied with how the characters ended (or paused) their arcs. But after spending so much time focusing inward and zooming in on characters and motivations, to pull back and skim over major resolving plot points created a disconnect on a personal level. And while I do understand, narratively, why it was done so, idk, it felt abrupt.

But I feel like it works when the book is thought of as book 3 out of 16 instead of 3 out of 3. And I'm looking forward to reading more.

Overall, I really did enjoy my time with the book. I think the atmosphere was great. I loved the lore that we got. I loved Fitz's complex relationships with those around them. And, like I said at the beginning, maybe just taking this book slower and taking it in really made me feel like I was engaging with it in a fuller way. Anyway - it was great, and I really enjoyed my time reading it.

Rating : 5 Stars

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SBC Book Club : The Invisible Library

Title: The Invisible Library Author: Genevieve Cogman Genre: Mystery (Speculative Fiction)

Goodreads Summary :

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that collects important works of fiction from all of the different realities. Most recently, she and her enigmatic assistant Kai have been sent to an alternative London. Their mission: Retrieve a particularly dangerous book. The problem: By the time they arrive, it's already been stolen.

Review :

The summary on the back paints an intriguing pictures. Strange libraries, professional spies, shadowy organizations, and rare books that need to be collected. There's definitely an interesting premise to be had here. The execution is, well, fine.

The book is about a woman named Irene (the Holmes references are striking and unsubtle) who works for a unique library that exists outside of reality and is connected to any world/dimension you can think of. Their objective is to get a hold of rare books because…. of collecting them? If you want to know more about the library itself and it's motives, it's a little thin in that department, though I think the intention is that you learn more about the library as the series continues.

Irene is sent to another world with a young man named Kai, who is just learning to be come a librarian. There -- in a steampunk inspired world with fae and dragons, there's a rare book they need to get a hold of, only there are others who are after that same book.

I thought this one would be a tad more on the 'solving mysteries' side of things and instead, it's almost more action based and runs like a Law and Order episode. Actually… while there is no relation, it reminds me a bit of the (somewhat) cheesy show called The Librarians where they're out to collect rare things, and all the villains act like they're from a ridiculous CW show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Charmed.

The book isn't bad by any means, but the writing feels stiff and simplistic at times -- and the dialogue is just terrible. The world building is great, the book does give off a fun atmosphere to live in. But like I said earlier, I had hoped for more mystery and less 'episode of the week' procedural. And not helping is that the writing does feel a bit on the shallow side, focusing more on action and setting up twists that pay off probably later in the series, but I can already see coming.

It's cute, it's fun, it's an overall easy read. I may feel compelled to continue the series at some point. But I can't say that I was blown away by it in any sense of the word.

Rating : 3.5 Stars

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SBC Book Club : The Thorn Queen

Title: The Thorn Queen Author: Sasha Peyton Smith Genre: YA Fantasy

Goodreads Summary :

Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England. But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time—and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country. To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett. Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever—and a queen must play most viciously of all. Or see herself dethroned.

Review :

The first book of this duology wasn't the best thing I ever read, but it was a lot of fun and, if nothing else, it was focused and worked as a solid narrative. This book… just didn't.

The plot of this book doesn't make a whole lot of sense until it does figure out how it wants to end and ends it in somewhat of a predictable and somewhat boring way. There's a kernel of a good story here but there's so much meandering without any good point that it feels disjointed most of the way through. And then the ending feels, idk, a bit lifeless.

The biggest issue is that good characterization didn't help the plot any, as none of the characters' choices made much sense through most of the book and often descends into YA melodrama instead of having anything resembling solid characterization.

Ivy, the main character, is… fine. She suffers from being YA Super!Heroine and while she's at least not particularly annoying about it, nothing about her felt unique among dozens of other YA protagonists that feel exactly the same. Her love interest, Emmett, was somewhat bland and suffered from being angsty and having his sole personality trait being in love with Ivy. Meanwhile, the secondary characters (many of whom were a delight in the original book) were barely there and used kind of as window dressing.

At least I'll give the book some credit -- where the book lacked (entirely) as a romance, it at least was good about showing a solid and loving sister relationship between Ivy and Lydia, and I'm glad that that was the heart of this novel over the somewhat bland romance between Ivy and Emmett.

The most egregious, though, was the antagonist. I think this entire plot would have worked way better if Bram had functioned as anything like a living being. He often swung from bonkers party boy, to five year old child, to jilted teen lover? His characterization was so bonkers that it really made the entire book hard to read. And while it wasn't necessarily hard to see what the author was going for, the execution fell fell flat entirely.

Idk.

It wasn't very good, and a disappointment coming off what fun the first book was, but everything was at least tied up nicely? (maybe not believably, but at least nicely.) At least the book is incredibly pretty?

Rating : 2.75 Stars

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S.O. Reads Agatha Christie : Curtain

I started this reread project a good five years ago now, and I'm finally at the end, which is bittersweet, but at the same time, I can always just go back to the beginning again. I've always enjoyed Agatha Christie -- since I was young, and I feel like I have a better appreciation of her now as an adult, and especially now that I've read through her canon in a more thoughtful way.

Curtain isn't her last book, it's not the last one she wrote nor is the last one published (though it is second to last) -- it's a book that she wrote in the middle of her career knowing that some day there will be an end. And I feel like the book works well on that level. This is a goodbye to her beloved detective Hercule Poirot.

Arthur Hastings is back as the first person narrator and he's back at Styles (the location of the first novel) to help Poirot catch a (sort of) serial killer.

It's a complicated novel to talk about (especially without spoiling it). But I will say -- I think overall, it works as a somewhat bittersweet ending to the Hercule Poirot narrative. It's nice to see Hastings again after so long. And Poirot ends in the most perfect dramatic fashion.

It's a refreshingly coherent novel -- after spending so long with the late Christies, it read rather well and felt solid in its story. And feels satisfying in the wrap up of the main characters stories. (Though, I'm sure Poirot's ending is probably a bit controversial overall, and I can see why people might be torn on the subject.)

As for they mystery itself, I don't think it's the strongest, and I wish that the characters, beyond Poirot and Hastings had been a bit stronger to make the whole thing a bit more believable. The story itself is an interesting idea, but the more one thinks about it, the more I think the story faulters. I also think there's a lot that feels of its time, and there are some incredibly cringy stuff that sticks out like a sore thumb. Some of it is intentional, some of it not, all of it felt uncomfortable.

But overall, I enjoyed my time with the book, and it always is a little sad to come to the end. But i'm glad the book exists as a commentary on grief and on saying goodbye. And it works nicely as the end of Christie's canon, which is why I saved it for last.

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SBC Book Club : Words From Hell

Title: Words From Hell Author: Jess Zafarris Genre: Non-Fiction (Reference/Language)

Goodreads Summary :

The English language is where words go to be tortured and mutilated into unrecognizable shadows of their former selves. It's where Latin, Greek, and Germanic roots are shredded apart and stitched unceremoniously back together with misunderstood snippets of languages snatched from the wreckage of conquest and colonialism. It wreaks merciless havoc upon grammar and spelling. It turns clinical terms into insults and children's tales into filthy euphemisms.

Review :

I have, in recent years, really begun to appreciate and enjoy learning about language -- about how and why words are the way they are and how language, in particular English, was shaped. And author Jess Zafarris is someone I know of and enjoy from a YouTube Etymology, which is where I heard about this book.

The book works more like a dictionary and isn't really meant to be read from cover to cover (though that is what I did, which is why it took me a while to get through it). It's broken down into specific categories, and the words are put alphabetically as each little blurb gives the etymology of words that... you probably aren't asking about in a standard etymology class.

The concept is pretty cool and each of the subsections covers a pretty hefty selection of words. I do wish that in some instances the background was explored just a tad more. Everything is kept pretty short and quick for easy readability, but sometimes I do think a tad more explanation was needed for words. But for the most part, it's a solid dictionary and an incredibly handy resource.

Zafarris is pretty casual, too, in her descriptions -- making it more conversational instead of clearly clinical. There was a tad bit of cheesiness that often resulted from it, but I didn't mind too much.

This book is great for the endlessly curious, and a solid resource for anyone who just wants to learn about all those naughty words or just wants to have an edge when it comes to language trivia. I like the author's style, and had a fun time with the book.

Rating : 4.75 Stars

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SO Reads Agatha Christie : Sleeping Murder

Agatha Christie's last published novel -- and second to last in my reread (I like to save Curtain for the end).

The story revolves around a young woman named Gwenda who is newly married and buys a house on a whim! (Can you imagine!) She remembers that she once lived in that house and she even bore witness to a murder! With the help of her husband, and the dutiful Miss Marple, they figure out who was murdered and why.

While this isn't anywhere near her best novel, it is refreshing to rea d a book from when Christie was in her prime. (The book was originally written in the 40s and sealed away.) While maybe a little on the simpler side, it's tight and straightforward and unlike the bloated, nonsensical novels of Christie's late career, this one felt like a dream to come back to.

The mystery is fine. It hinges a little too much on some coincidences (do we really believe that Gwenda blocked out someone being murdered in her childhood?) and, while it's probably been twenty years since I've read it -- and had forgotten most of the details, the murderer was pretty easy to spot. I'm not sure if that's because I vaguely remember the plot or because I'm so used to Christie's style that after a while, you can see her tricks.

But Gwenda and her husband are sweet and fun characters, and their amateur sleuthing reminded me slightly of a younger Tommy and Tuppence. The rest of the characters are fine, but none of them really jump off the page.

I will say -- one thing that did work for me was the portrayal of the original victim, Helen. I kind of love that originally, when you learn about her, she seems like kind of a hussy or something, but it's all about perspective, and Miss Marple sets the record straight, giving us insight into how women are often misunderstood by men.

As for Miss Marple, she plays a decent role, but even though this is her last case, there doesn't seem to be that much finality to it -- and one can say that the actual last Miss Marple case, Nemesis, did feel like closure on her character. But that said, Miss Marple is solidly good, and feels like she fits decently well.

It's a solidly good Christie, a quick read, and refreshing coming from the books from the end of Christie's career.

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SBC Book Club : Circe

Title: Circe Author: Madeline Miller Genre: Lit (Mythology Retelling)

Goodreads Summary :

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Review :

So. This has been one of those novels that has been on my TBR for a long time. I love Greek Mythology, and I bought this years ago when retellings were the biggest craze. I feel like I have some complicated feelings about it, but it is a good book and a fast read and very easily accessible in a way that sometimes these classical retellings are not.

The novel revolves around Circe -- an immortal witch born from a Titan and a Nymph and mostly known for her year spent with Odysseus during The Odyssey. She was somewhat a villain then, and this book works very hard to (somewhat ironically, but no it's the entire point) humanize her.

I really loved the first half the book. Circe grows up (over a long period of time) and it's touch and go with various myths that connect to her, from Prometheus to Jason and Medea to the Minotaur. Circe fumbles her way through her life, but where often the gods are often glorified and prevailed, the narrative doesn't shy away from how terrible they can be and the consequences of their own hubris.

It's almost episodic in a way, and while the whole novel kind of remains in these chunk like states, I wish we had more, but instead the book slows down and focuses on the Odysseus narrative once he arrives on the scene. The book doesn't shy away from deconstructing our beloved heroes, either, humanizing them as well, and not being afraid to show the consequences of all the gods' meddling.

The second half of the book, however, felt somewhat indulgent and went to some places where I wasn't really thrilled to be going? And while the first half of the book really posits Circe as a flawed by sympathetic character, the second half of the book felt like it lacked a bit of the strong, well rounded character work that the first half of the book had.

Plus, while I very much liked the final beat of Circe's journey, there were a few things near the end that I was like…. eh, not sure I love that but okay.

The book is a relatively easy read, with solid prose. It's interesting, while other reviews I've read mentioned that they felt like they needed more understanding of Greek Myth to get it, I felt like the book spent a little too much time recapping the very well known myths and I wish we didn't have to spend so much time on exposition dumps. That said, I think it's a book about character and character work, and I did love that people came in and out of Circe's life as she's forced to be stuck in one place.

Overall, I did enjoy my time with it, and I found it a great read. I don't know that I loved it but I am intrigued enough that I really want to read The Song of Achilles.

Rating : 4 Stars

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SO Reads Agatha Christie : Postern of Fate

With only three books left to tackle, I've stalled a bit on this project -- partially because I really don't want to get to the end (though I can always start over) but also because I've hit this book, which is often regarded as one of, if not the, worst book she wrote. Is that a fair assessment?

Yes, this is probably he worst book. But I think some context matters.

Poster of Fate is Christie's last written work (her final two books were written in the 40s) and she was in her 80s at the time and it wasn't much longer after this that she passed away and it's clear that she didn't have the same mental facilities that she once had. This book is a meandering mess that doesn't really make much sense, but you can tell that Christie was just doing a lot of reminiscing about the past and really just wanted to put on one book.

If asked for the plot, it's hard to say, because there really isn't much of one, and what assemblance we have doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I will give this book credit in that it has a great hook -- in that an old children's book is found with a clue that someone from the past was murdered but no one knew about it. It's a fascinating hook for a novel and the set up is by far the best part of the book.

It is, of course, a Tommy and Tuppence novel -- which almost works in that they've aged along with Christie, and they make great vessels for which Christie can do her reminiscing. Despite the fact that there is a mystery to solve, they spend the entire book just talking -- about nothing, about each other, about old cases, about things so incredibly not relevant it's almost comical.

And, of course, there are remnants of Christie's old thrillers in that the 'plot' loosely is based on the murder of an old pre-WW1 spy. But the book never really goes in any actual direction. Some answers are given, but there are a ton of plot holes and dangling threads that never get tied up. It's like Christie kept forgetting where she was going as she was writing the book, and no one on the editing team wanted to tell her just how bad it was. The book probably shouldn't have been published.

I guess that said, it does get a few points from me for the initial hook and for the fact that when Tommy and Tuppence do go into nostalgia mode, there's a little glimmer of Christie's own life and reflections that stand out. But I'm glad that she did save a few novels for her final ones so that this wouldn't be how Christie ultimately went out.

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SBC Book Club : The Thirteenth Tale

Title: The Thirteenth Tale Author: Diane Setterfield Genre: Literary Fiction (Gothic Suspense)

Goodreads Summary :

Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long.

Review :

This has been on my TBR for a long time -- the book was already yellowed with age. And I've always been kind of enticed by books that have to do with other books or writers or all of that, and the cover has caught my eye, really, ever since it came out. It wasn't what I was expecting at all, but it was still an incredibly captivating read.

The whole premise is that famous author Vida Winter is finally telling her story and asks for the daughter of a bookseller (and a budding memoirist) to tell her story. It kind of has a 'Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' set up (even though this book predates that one) in that an older, famous person is telling their life story upon their death bed.

What we get is kind of a Gothic almost horror novel -- which I didn't realize we were doing, but I kind of really dug the mysterious and creepy vibes around it.

Winter insists that she tell the story her way, and therefore Margaret is kind of left piecing and patching things together as she kind of unfolds the truth through the story she's being told. Along the way we get suggestions of incest, creepy twins, murder, and solid themes of loss and abandonment.

When extrapolated, the story is kind of simple, but this book kind of lives on how a story is told rather than what the story actually is. Because the way the story build suspense and hands out little pieces of information makes the whole read intense and mystifying. And I really enjoyed that element of it.

The story toggles between past and present, and sometimes it's hard to come back to the present because the past story being told is so engaging.

Margaret going off on her side quest to fill in the blanks is interesting in a detective novel kind of way. But my one kind of 'eh' feeling about the book is that there's a running parallel in her own life where she found out she was originally a twin, but the twin didn't make it past birth. And while the thematic elements hold up across the two stories, I don't think it was interesting enough nor was it really developed enough to compete with the story Winter was telling.

Still, I think the book is very beautiful written, hauntingly told, and doesn't give so much away that you aren't left trying to put some of the pieces together yourselves. I can see why this ended up in the literary fiction aisle instead of horror (it's not quite scary enough) or mystery/thriller (not quite mysterious or thrillery enough) aisles.

Also, two lingering thoughts -- 1. I like that it felt like an older book. The present day could have been anywhere from 1950s-1980s due to the lack of technology, placing the past somewhere at the end of the 1800s thru the turn of the century. The whole book feeling like a past world helps with the unsettling atmosphere of it all. 2. The titular thirteenth tale is a great hook into the book -- why did this author leave this short story out, which is almost forgotten until the end (though it's clear she was saving that bit for the end). And it ties to the book in a really satisfying way.

So yeah, a really captivating read that I'm glad I finally got around to reading!

Rating : 4.75 Stars

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SBC Book Club : Murder Your Employer

Title: Murder Your Employer Author: Rupert Holmes Genre: Mystery/Dark Academia

Goodreads Summary :

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A “fiendishly funny” (Booklist) mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read.

Review :

I have an affinity for interesting looking books with quirky premises. And there are elements of this book that I was initially intrigued by that I think does make this one an eye-catching read. But I don't really think the experience lived up to the expectation, and I feel a little bad saying disappointing is what I came away from it.

The set up works pretty well. There's a guy named Cliff who tries to murder his employer for /reasons/. And then gets whisked away to a secret school where they teach you the proper way to handle 'deletions'. It's kind of a fun set up, and the whole thing stays light enough that it feels more like a cozy mystery (thriller?) than what could be a really dark premise.

You can tell that Holmes spent a lot of time setting up the school and the world. The school is there for people to get rid of the truly awful people in the world and people aren't there who enjoy murdering - it's more like a secret society of assassins or something. The school itself is fairly fascinating -- and the cover includes a really beautiful and fully realized map of the grounds.

The first half of the book takes place at the school. And it feels like the author wanted to show off how much worldbuilding he had done in coming up with the school rather than handling an actual plot. Though, things do happen, and I do think the first half of the book is by far the more interesting part of it.

Cliff, while maybe a little bland and generic, is an interesting enough main character, and feels like the perfect vehicle to be thrown into a world like this. He just wants to be rid of the truly terrible person who killed his best friend and possible girl friend and is on his way to murdering hundreds more with a shoddy engineering design.

The first half of the book is spent with mostly first person journal entries, as well as excerpts from the guide book for the school. But then, half way through, we split off into three different narratives -- following not only Cliff but an actress who wants a shady producer dead, and a woman who needs to get rid of her blackmailer.

And this is where the story truly drags. Cliff is by far the most interesting character, and it feels like we're wasting time with the other two. I kind of kept waiting for things to possibly tie up together in the end, but they really don't, and by the time we get to the end, it feels almost like this has all been a set up for a second book (which there will be). I had a hard time focusing as the narrative spent too much time setting up characters within the threads who ultimately didn't matter, and I was often bored by the narrative choices. I kind of skimmed the last fifth or so of the book.

The book ends with a cliffhanger and while the initial murder threads are wrapped up nicely, the ending definitely sets up book 2, which brings it back to the school. But I can't say that I'm all that interested in continuing the series.

Also, just want to throw out there that this book takes place in the 1950s. It really does have a nice atmosphere about it, and while I found the plot kind of dull after a while, I think the feel of the book worked well for what the author was going for.

I really wanted to like this one, and I don't necessarily think it's bad, I just wish the story had been more interesting.

Rating : 3.5 Stars

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SBC Book Club : First Comes Scandal

Title: First Comes Scandal Author: Julia Quinn Genre: Romance

Goodreads Summary :

Georgiana Bridgerton isn't against the idea of marriage. She'd just thought she'd have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she's abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.

Review :

The fourth and final book in the Rokesby Quartet - the Bridgerton Prequel series, and honestly, I'm a little sad to see this series go, as I think all of these books were much better written than the original Bridgerton novels.

I'm kind of astounded at how Julia Quinn can make a nearly three hundred page book about almost nothing - as this book completely lacks any kind of real plot or conflict. That doesn't mean it's bad - in fact, it's kind of enjoyable in a -- watching a Hallmark movie -- kind of way, and it's a nice reprieve from anything heavier you might be reading. But it's not any kind of literary masterpiece.

Georgiana Bridgerton needs to get married because some asshat ruined her reputation, and so her old friend (after he's talked into it by his family) Nicholas Rokesby offers to marry her. And then fall in love. It honestly could have been ten pages.

The filler is, at least, rather entertaining -- for one, this book lives up to the Bridgerton prequel name as we have some cameos from actual Bridgertons we know and love! Violet shows up with three little ones in tow -- young Anthony and Benedict, and little baby Colin, and honestly it made my heart so happy to see them. There's an entire sequence where baby Colin just wants to eat, and Nicholas's marriage proposal is thwarted by shenanigans of Anthony and Benedict.

There are also a lot of cats in this novel. A. Lot. An alarming amount. And they, too, thwart our lovers from really figuring their shit out.

The thing that is kind of nice about this book, however, is the fact that Georgiana and Nicholas are actually pretty great with each other. For one, he's studying to be a doctor, and she wants to learn all the things, and he teachers and has her help him with his studies. For two, Nicholas might be the best male protagonists in any of these books. Not only does he lack any of the anger issues that plague her other MMCs, he's kind and sweet and is actually a virgin himself. (There's a hilarious passage where he states he was waiting for marriage because he didn't want to contract syphilis.) It's kind of refreshing.

So yeah, if you want a fun historical romance romp with little thinking involved, I actually recommend all of the Rokesby novels. I'm not sure that this is my favorite, though it may have the best characters, and the most delightful cameos out of all of them. But they're all fun and light and lack some of the more questionable issues that plague the original Bridgerton novels.

Rating : 4 Stars

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SBC Book Club : As If We Were Villains

Title: As If We Were Viillains Author: ML Rio Genre: Mystery

Goodreads Summary :

Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail - for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.

As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.

Review :

This... is an interesting one to review because there's a lot going on and I feel like it's a book that makes you have to take a step back and think -- did it work? Does it not work? I don't... quite know.

The premise is straightforward - it's about seven theater kids and, really, how they navigate their lives. I feel like, in some ways, it's a spruced up, fancier - I Know What You Did Last Summer (which was a 90s cheesy horror classic - for those of you old enough to remember). I've heard others say that it's a dumbed down A Secret History, but I haven't read that, so I can't tell you. Anyway - there's a group of seven, one dies, who is ultimately responsible??

The book sells itself as a mystery, but I don't necessarily think it is one at heart. It's a story about theater kids and about Shakespeare and about not really getting yourself when you're young.

I did find the Shakespeare aspect of it kind of fun - though I think it works better when you know the plays, their themes, and if you're alright with the gratuitous amount of quoting from the plays the author does. I do think it's a little cheesy at times, but it's also fun, and it's what gave this book its charm.

The characters, however, are what I'm slightly conflicted about. I think Rio goes out of her way to make them certain archetypes. But because she does that, they never really fully are formed, and I'm left with some questions lingering. Like, I don't know why our victim, Richard, turned on a dime to be the big dick that he ended up being.

Also. Okay. Here's my thing. When I started reading this, part of the charm was that I've went into fine arts for college and, ha, yeah the students can be dramatic and melodramatic and I did kind of buy some the shenanigans that went on. But I couldn't help but feel that the book wasn't queer enough - like, all of these kids would be some level of queer, you know? And at first, I thought I was reading too much into some of the possible subtext.

And then I realize that the subtext was not my imagination but actually there. And I kind of wish that the queerness would have been a little less subtext and more actual text. I feel like the main character, Oliver, was so into figuring out a complex his relationship with a woman that sometimes it didn't seem like the queer aspect of his character was there much at all.

And I realized this book may have hit better thirty years ago, when this is how most of these kinds of books were written. (and, I mean, it also makes sense when you discuss that the book's plot takes place thirty years ago.) But I guess, in a world where queerness is not as hidden as it once was, it feels almost odd to go back to a time where it was barely visible within the prose.

Anyway... It's a fun book, and an incredibly easy read, made more fun when you understand Shakespeare. The characters are interesting enough to keep you entertained, but it is a shame that they're never fully able to step out of the roles the author cast them as. I do recommend it as a fun way to pass a few afternoons, though I don't think the book falls apart a bit when you look at it too closely.

Rating : 4 Stars

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SBC Book Club : Project Hail Mary

Title: Project Hail Mary Author: Andy Weir Genre: Science-Fiction

Goodreads Summary :

RYLAND GRACE is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and Earth itself will perish.

Review :

I really enjoyed The Martian, and I had been meaning to read this for a while now. I've noticed a lot of good friends of mine have read it and enjoyed it, and I've been looking forward to getting to it. Plus, I don't read a lot of straight up science-fiction, but I felt it had been a while.

I'm happy to say that I really adored this book. The thing about Weir's writing is that he doesn't get bogged down in a lot of personal drama. It's really about human endurance and self and dealing with unique situations that are somewhat grounded in reality. His books aren't extreme, futuristic science-fiction. They're down the road science-fiction, which is why I think I enjoy them.

The plot is simple, Ryland Grace has been sent out on a mission to save Earth. The cool thing is that the story doesn't start from the beginning, it slowly unfolds - bouncing back between the past and the present, and unraveling the how and why Grace came to be where he is.

And one thing I appreciate about the main character, even if he is kinda the same as the MC from The Martian, is that he's a good guy. Basic, not too much of one thing or another - there's a reason Ryan Gosling is playing him in the film, but good guy. And I kind of appreciate the characterization. You really root for him as the story goes along, but it's a nice break from overly dramatic melodrama that often plagues these kinds of stories.

The heart of this book, however, is Grace's friendship with an alien life form - Rocky. It's... just an utter delight. It's got so much heart, and it's friendship based, and everything about it is so sweet -- and it truly is the best part of this novel. I adore it to pieces.

My only criticism of the book, and it's slight, was kind of the same issue I had with The Martian. There are times when it gets a little too science-y (for me) and I tend to glaze over some of those parts. But it's not that bad, and I think its just how Weir kind of expresses his love for the genre, and I do find that endearing.

Overall, it's a wonderful book (and I hope it ends up being a special movie as well). I encourage anyone who enjoys the genre to pick it up!

Rating : 5 Stars

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SBC Book Club : Puck and Prejudice

Title: Puck and Prejudice Author: Lia Riley Genre: Romance

Goodreads Summary :

A sizzling marriage of convenience romance between a pro hockey player who accidentally travels back in time to Regency Era England and the brazen contemporary of Jane Austen he just can’t help but fall for… 

Review :

Let's be real for a moment. I picked this up because it looked ridiculous and promised y'all I'd read it and so I have. And. You know, it's exactly what it says on the tin. Sometimes when you go in expecting a bad book, it's fun when it's an absolutely terrible book. And sometimes you get pleasantly surprised. In the end, this one ended up being exactly what it said it was, no more and no less. It was never going to be my cup of tea, and it wasn't. And I really should leave it at that.

The story is about Tuck the hockey player falling through time to the Regency era to meet Lizzie, who really wants a husband so he can be killed off so she can lead the life she wants to lead without a man. ... They end up falling in love.

I feel like it reads like generic fanfiction, relying on about fifty different tropes to get through the plot. There's only one bed! Marriage of Convenance! Time Travel! Antagonistic-to-lovers which people always claim is Enemies-to-Lovers when it's really not. The beats of the plot go through the motions, and everything happens exactly when you expect it to.

The characters are rather bland -- neither of the leads feel endearing (and, god, Tucker just feels like a meathead to me, but whatever). The prose feels amateurish. And story spends a lot of time on boring things like Tucker explaining the future to Lizzie. The smut isn't bad, but it feels more aggressive at points than the rest of the novel, so sometimes it feels jarring.

But, you know, the book is very palatable. There's nothing offensive in it (though there's nothing challenging either), so if that's what you're looking for -- just a romp of a story that feels safe and familiar, then more power to you. It's really equivalent to a literary bowl of buttery popcorn. So, if that's what you're in the mood for - more power to you.

I kind of wish it had been more of a romp with such a silly premise, but it is what it is.

Rating : 2.25 stars. It gets a quarter star for mentioning The Mighty Ducks. :)

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SBC Book Club : Royal Assassin

Title: Royal Assassin Author: Robin Hobb Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads Summary :

Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.

Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.

Review :

My intention was to have had this finished by the end of my vacation. Clearly, that did not work out as intended.

You know, for a book about an assassin, there aren't that many assassinations. I kind of feel almost like the marketing team decided to push the titles, because they're misleading in a way. The book is an epic, character driven exploration of this world and not really the secret, espionage tale the title suggestions. Minor gripe.

Anyway, this book is good. Solidly good. I enjoyed a majority of my time with it.

On the plus side, the book hits all the fantasy beats really well. Fitz is still intriguing as he continues to grow and evolve. Yeah, a lot of shit happens to him but that's almost to be expected in books like this. It's kind of the hero in a fantasy book trope that I kind of let go. This book isn't trying to be innovative -- it's building on classical themes and doing it well.

I love a majority of the side characters. Verity is just one of my favorite characters, I can't even tell you why, other than he just good and trying the best he can. I love Kettricken as the feisty Queen-in-Waiting. Love the mysteriousness of the Fool. Patience, Chade and Burrich continue to have a great presence. The characters are really the heart of this story, and their dynamics and plights are really wonderful.

And, I mean, there's some good political intrigue in here as well - as Prince Regal slowly gains control. I think the Empire Strikes Back ending can kind of be seen a mile away, but it works as the tension builds and builds to the ending climax.

Also intriguing is the whole Skill vs Wit and the introduction of Nighteyes. The magic system is unique and interesting, and having that animal connection is really pretty fascinating. Plus, I'm here for Nighteyes to be a consistant commentator on the story because it's great.

There are, however, two things I struggled with. The first is the pacing. I can do slow. The first book was slow but I appreciated how it unfolded. This book was, well, sometimes a slog in that it wasn't that it was slow, it was repetitive. There were times when Hobb felt the need to fully recap what happened in a chapter just previously, and some of the beats within the story would be hit over and over and they felt unnecessary.

The other thing, and honestly - this one drove me nuts, is the romance with Molly. Look. I enjoy a good romance. I do. But this felt soooo melodramatic. It reminded me a lot of the old school mass market romances that my mother used to by. The conflict between Fitz and Molly felt so, idk, dumb. Molly, as a character, just doesn't work for me. She demands complete and utter devotion without an ounce of understanding and she just comes off as irritating. I was glad when they finally ended it (though I'm sure that won't be the actual end). She just grates on my ever last nerve and the book spends an unfortunate amount of time developing the romance.

I struggled with it.

But, I still enjoyed the book, and I'm still very much looking forward to continuing the series.

Rating : 4 Stars

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SBC Book Club : The Indifferent Stars Above

Title: The Indifferent Stars Above Author: Daniel James Brown Genre: History (Non-Fiction)

Goodreads Summary :

In April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of emigrants led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors.

Review :

So, um. Trigger warning guys, because we're going to talk about cannibalism today.

Here's the thing. The story of the Donner Party has become one of those things that's morphed into becoming myth of the American West. It's one of those disaster stories where everything that can go wrong will go wrong, but the big take away was the shock value of people so desperate they were forced into cannibalism, and that's now what's become settled into pop culture and has, unfortunately, turned it into somewhat of a joke and a meme and now you can play it in board game version in the comfort of your own home. (No joke - it's sold at my store.)

The thing that's often forgotten is that these were real people who went through a terrible thing, and the twisted beauty of this book is that Brown is able to realize and contextualize the story so well that we're forced to confront something that most people play off as crazy, mythological story from way back when.

The main part of the narrative centers around, not the titular Donner party, but the Graves family - who joined with the Donners on their trek through the west, to California. More specifically, focusing on the oldest daughter, Sarah Graves - a newly wed young woman, who brings her new husband along with her family in search of a new, idyllic life in a romanticized location.

The first half of the book is very much a detailing of life on the Oregon Trail. Which might hit home to anyone my age who loved to play the game of the same name way back when they were kids. Unfortunately, for those involved in this tragedy - dying of dysentery might have been a mercy.

There were a lot of wrong turns and bad luck that happened, and eventually, nearly 90 people were stranded in the Sierra Nevada with the onset of winter. To say it gets bleak is an understatement.

The thing about Brown's writing is that it brilliant lets this story unfold. It feels a little like fiction as he weaves the story about Sarah, letting you get to know her and her family as you begin to make the journey with them. Letting them feel human and pulling you into the narrative in an incredibly engaging way.

And then it winds it way to one of the darkest moments in the story -- where after months on the trail, after starving in the mountains for weeks, after enduring days of walking on foot, barely clothed through snow and chilling temperatures, after watching her father die around Christmas - his last words begging his girls to use his body as food, after watching her new husband succumb to the elements, she ends up in a nearly catatonic state as the others in her party then take the heart of her now dead husband, the man she was supposed to be getting her happy ending with, and consume it in front front of her.

The scene is horrific in the truest sense of the word. And something I think that will stick with me for a long time.

The other thing I enjoy about Brown's writing is that his pacing is fantastic, but also the framing he works in is wonderful as well. He takes the time to gives historical facts, or gets into the science and psychology behind what's going on. When things become too intense or may need a bit of an explanation, he pulls the narrative back and reframes it. He lets the real people in this be the real people, and he never loses that focal point, but he also allows us moments of reprieve to understand the hows and whys of what's happening.

I may have one or two minor nitpicks -- I'm not sure I understand why he toggles between using the terms Indians and Native Americans, sometimes in the same paragraph. It feel like he could have handled discussion around Native Americans with a little more care. And then in the second half of the book, there he expands his scope to cover what happened with everyone as they slowly succumb to their own madness. With nearly a dozen parties and nearly 90 people in the narrative it can be confusing at times.

But over all, it's incredibly well researched and hauntingly told, and a book that will remain with me for a long, long time.

Rating : 5 Stars