This Month in Mormon Literature, May 2016

This month features new recommendations of works long (The Whitney Awards) and short (The Mormon Lit Blitz). A new opera, The Lost Children of Hamelin, by Jamie Erekson, premiers at BYU.  And lots of new books. We also mourn the death of author Zachary T. Hill. Please send any corrections or news to mormonlit AT gmail DOT com.

News and blog posts

The Whitney Awards were presented on May 7^th at the Whitney Award Gala, Provo Marriott Hotel, Provo, Utah. The winners were:

Middle Grade: Jennifer A. Nielsen for A NIGHT DIVIDED

General Young Adult: Martine Leavitt for CALVIN

Speculative Young Adult: Brandon Sanderson for FIREFIGHT

General Fiction: Tara C. Allred for THE OTHER SIDE OF QUIET

Historical: A.L. Sowards for THE RULES IN ROME

Mystery/Suspense: Traci Hunter Abramson for FAILSAFE

Romance: Josi S. Kilpack for LORD FENTON’S FOLLY

Speculative Fiction: Dan Wells for THE DEVIL’S ONLY FRIEND

Best Novel by a New Author: Valynne E. Maetani for INK AND ASHES

Best Youth Novel: Jennifer A. Nielsen for A NIGHT DIVIDED

Best Novel: Josi S. Kilpack for LORD FENTON’S FOLLY

Outstanding Achievement Award: Tracy and Laura Hickman

Lifetime Achievement Award: Marsha Ward

The Mormon Lit Blitz is going on. “We have twelve stellar pieces this year–short stories, essays, and poems. Some will inspire you. Some will challenge you and your notions of Mormon literature. Some will give you insights even as they make you laugh.” Here is the long list of 20 finalists.

May 23rd: “Foolish and Wise” by Lisa Barker

May 24th: “Fresh Courage Take” by Bradeigh Godfrey

May 25th: “Leaving Egypt” by Tyler Chadwick

May 26th: “Ghost” by Merrijane Rice

May 27th: “Requiem for Those People Who Lived Briefly in Your Ward” by Rose Green

May 28th: “The Gift of Tongues“ by Annaliese Lemmon

May 30th: “Branch 9 ¾” by Kaki Olsen

May 31st: “Golden Contact” by Lee Allred

June 1st: “The Back Row” by Kelli Swofford Nielsen

June 2nd: “Rumors of Wars” by Zachary Lunn

June 3rd: “Last Tuesday” by William Morris

June 4th: “From the East” by Merrijane Rice

The Sunstone Education Foundation invites writers to enter its 2016 Fiction Contest. All entries must relate to adult Latter-day Saint experience, theology, or worldview. All varieties of form are welcome. Up to three entries may be submitted by any one author. Send manuscript in PDF or Word format to sunstone.editor@gmail.com by 30 June 2016.

The Teen Writers Conference will be held at Weber State University, June 18. If you have a teenager who loves to write or is interested in learning about the publishing industry, this one day conference is full of fantastic workshops geared toward teenagers. Keynote is NY Times bestseller Jennifer A. Nielsen, along with presenters Frank L. Cole, Mikey Brooks, Charlie Nicholes Holmberg, Author Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Luthy Lyon, Julie Peterson Wright, Ronda Hinrichsen, Lisa Mangum, Lee Falin, Nancy Campbell Allen, Jennifer Lunt Moore, and Michele Ashman Bell.

Melissa Leilani Larson and Garrett Batty spoke on inspirational drama on May 19 at the Church History Museum for its periodic Evenings at the Museum Lecture Series (Deseret News).

A new LDS Non-Fiction Writers Guild blog, called “Stranger than Fiction“, recently was created. Their motto is “To better the world through true stories written from a faith-based perspective.”

Theric discusses Annie Poon’s new surrealistic animated short film “The Split House”, which is currently playing at Writ and Vision in Provo (A Motley Vision). “It’s just under five minutes long and, thematically, strikes me as a cross between “Runaway Bathtub” and “Annie’s Circus“—and certainly it shares with those films its surrealism. (Aside: I don’t mean surreal, as it often seems to be used today, in the sense of Dalíesque—but, as Breton said, from the position of believing that “pure dreaming . . . is not inferior to the sum of the moments of reality.” All three of these films engage in a fluidity associated more with dreams than the empirical world, and all three of them find their truths through breezing past the strict requirements of realism . . . Even at five seconds created per day, “The Split House” hews true to surrealist ideals manifested in activities such as automatic drawing. In fact, you might argue that the slower speed at which animation is created has allowed Annie to be more deliberately automatic—which might be why her work is, shall we say, much more successful than the automatism of old.”

Author and environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams has tendered her resignation from her position as professor in the University of Utah Environmental Humanities Program she founded, after a dispute with the University over the nature of her courses within the department. Sam Rushforth and Scott Abbott wrote an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, criticizing the University for its actions.

Margaret Blair Young tells the true story behind her novel Salvador in this series of posts (six so far), “Salvador: The Truth Behind the Fiction.” It talks about Margaret and her father’s relationship in the 1970s with Dale Gordon, a charismatic Mormon who claimed to be building a zion community in Guatemala, but who was instituting some fundamentalist policies, including polygamy.

Jennifer Quist. “Bad, Honest Advice on How to Write as a Young Mom”

“Mormon Cinema.” Jess R at The Exponent II on using Mormon movies to explain her culture her non-LDS boyfriend. “For me, though, the best thing to come out of my new role as cultural guide has been the opportunity to revisit my own origins with a fresh perspective. My boyfriend does not have all the baggage I do with Mormonism. He can see the good and the bad without prejudice. It has helped me gain perspective. I got a lot of good things from growing up Mormon: I always had adult role models besides my parents I could go to for help. I always had a sense of community. I had practical experience leading my peers and planning activities, as well as speaking in public. I was instilled with a crazy work ethic, a sense that my worth was great in the sight of God, and a deep belief in the importance of being kind. Of course, each of these has unintended negative side effects, but the net experience was definitely positive. On the flip side, I’ve been able to identify why some things bother me in ways that I haven’t been able to articulate before. The song ‘Sweet Spirit’ from Sons of Provo is a good example. In case satirical LDS pop is not your thing, the song is about a young lady who, in spite of her homeliness, is beautiful on the inside. On the surface, this is a good message. In reality it is offering condescending pity to a woman who will never get married and therefore has no worth. It is basically every marriage lesson I ever had in Young Women’s boiled down in to a three minute song.”

Gideon Burton’s Literature of the LDS (English 368) class at BYU has a website, including the short essay homework assignments of his students (from 2014 and 2015), and recordings of his Winter 2015 lectures.

Dan Wells talks about horror with the Deseret News.

In Memoriam

Author Zachary T. Hill passed away January 15, 2016. Hill self-published a series his series of novels and non-fiction works, the most recent being 2015’s The Gods of Miskatonic, a Lovecraftian urban fantasy. Hill served a mission in Mexico, and served in the military, including two tours of duty in Iraq. He attended Southern Virginia University. Larry Correia wrote a detailed tribute to his close friend.

Short stories and poetry

Redneck Eldrich. Cold Fusion Media, May 1. Speculative short story anthology. Stories by D. J. Butler, Brad Torgersen, David J. West, Steve Diamond, Jaleta Clegg, Theric Jepson, and others. Not all of the authors are Mormon.

Neil Aitken. Leviathan. Hyacinth Girl Press, March. Poetry chapbook. 24 pages.

New Books and their reviews

Various authors: A Timeless Romance: Road Trip Collection. Mirror Press, May 10. Contemporary romance anthology. With novellas by Annette Lyon, Aubrey Mace, Heather B. Moore, Jolene Perry, Raneé S. Clark, and Sarah M. Eden.

Julie Coulter Bellon. The Captain. Stone Hall Book, April 29. Griffin Force #2. Romantic Suspense. About an elite counter-terrorism team.

Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine. “Reasonable strengths and weaknesses make the characters in this novel believable. Dialog is up-to-date adding to a sense of realism. Bellon pays careful attention to settings and is known for her depiction of international venues for her books, using both European and Middle Eastern settings to add authenticity to her stories. The plot moves forward at a rapid pace, making The Captive a difficult book to set down. The book has a great cover, but some of the spacing gaps in the text are distracting.”

Shannen Crane Camp. Parrish. Future House Publishing, April 28. Paranormal romance/mystery. “Sadie Smith was absolutely certain of three things: (1) ghosts were indisputably real; (2) she and her three friends were some of the best (though not the most successful) ghost hunters in Oregon; (3) her teammate Jefferson Parrish was always the scariest thing in the room. In a face-off between supernatural beings and Jefferson’s Tim Burton-esque vibe there really was no contest. But ghosts—unsurprisingly—can’t help pay the rent. So when Sadie and her friends are offered an undisclosed sum of money from an anonymous client to find a link between four historical haunted locations, it’s an easy sell.”

Karlene Browning, 4.5 stars. “A Clever Genre-Mixing, Ghost-Hunting, Mystery with Thrills & Chills! This ghost-hunting foursome are awesome in their quirky uniqueness. I loved all four of them. In their early 20’s, they’re still trying to work out their place in life, relationships, personal identities. All while hunting ghosts . . . The interaction and dialog between this group as they try to solve the mystery is funny and clever. They work together well. Well, sort of… maybe I should say, quirkily good enough. I loved it. Plot? Okay, this is tricky because there are twists and turns, and at times I was wondering if they’re chasing ghosts or a murderer? Or something else entirely. As I was reading, I was trying to figure it out—but then I just gave up and decided to enjoy the ride. And it was a great ride! There is a lot to be revealed in future books, this one doesn’t quite wrap up the mystery and hand it to you with a bow on top . . . If you like ghosts and mild horror, I recommend this book. I’d be fine with teens reading it. Although labelled as New Adult, there’s not the sex or language that you often find in those books.”

Rachel Chipman, Deseret News. “The charm of “Parrish” lies in its cast of characters. Sadie’s quest to be normal, Brighton’s courage and anxiety, Deacon’s bravado, and Jefferson’s brooding all drive the story and keep the many travel scenes from getting stale. Readers will appreciate Jefferson as a romantic male lead, but his intensity may be off-putting to some. “Parrish” isn’t a typical ghost story. There’s no blood, gore or fear of paranormal vengeance. This novel is more of a love story to the other side, celebrating whimsy, hope and the unknown. Readers shouldn’t expect every loose end to be tied up, either — Camp prefers a little smoke and mirrors over revealing the man behind the curtain.”

Larry Correia. Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent. Audible Exclusive novella. Comic fantasy. Narrated by Adam Baldwin. May 24.

“Have you ever seen a planet invaded by rampaging space mutants from another dimension or Nazi dinosaurs from the future? Don’t let this happen to you! Rifts happen, so you should be ready when universes collide. A policy with Stranger & Stranger can cover all of your interdimensional insurance needs. Rated “Number One in Customer Satisfaction” for three years running, no claim is too big or too weird for Tom Stranger to handle.”

Amy Harmon. The Bird and the Sword. Self, May 11. High fantasy, romance.

Bookworm Nation. 4.5 stars. “The day her mother is murdered, Lark looses her voice. Unwanted and misunderstood she has led a very lonely life, her father protects her only to keep himself safe and she is given very little freedom. Everything changes when the new King comes and takes her away to his kingdom. Wanting to keep her as blackmail to keep her father in line she has become a prisoner once again, only in a nicer cage . . . Overall, this was a fun escape. It’s well written, strong world-building and character development. I would recommend to fans of Mystic and Rider, Stolen Songbird or Northlander. Or really just anyone who loves an epic romance!”

Amy Harmon. Making Faces. Part of an anthology of re-released novels called Coming Home. Katharine Gilliam Regenery, May. Harmon’s book was originally self-published in 2013. It is included in a 5-volume set of military romances about coming home. The other authors are Katy Regnery, KL Grayson, Heidi McLaughlin, BT Urruela, and Kallypso Masters.

David Powers King. The Undead Road. Dashboard Books, Jan. 2. My Zombie Summer #1. YA zombie horror.

Matthew J. Kirby. Island of the Sun. Balzer + Bray, May 10. Young reader/Middle grade dystopian science fiction. Dark Gravity Sequence #2. Sequel to The Arctic Code. “Eleanor and her friends have shut down the mysterious Concentrator in the Arctic, but their mission is far from over. The earth is still spinning out of its orbit and growing colder by the day. Their only chance is to find the other Concentrators embedded around the world and deactivate them before it’s too late. But doing so won’t be easy. The Global Energy Trust has branded Eleanor, her mother, and their friends international terrorists and is tracking their every move.”

SLJ: “The intrigue and excitement continue in this dystopian sequel . . . Readers will be carried along in this page-turning tale that ends on a cliffhanger. Kirby keeps the plot moving with hair-raising adventures involving reanimated mummies and underwater temples. VERDICT A thrilling story sure to keep adventure lovers on the edge of their seats.”

Kirkus: “The author shoehorns in so much continuing conflict between Eleanor and her overprotective mother (both white), and also between another scientist and his two biracial sons (black/white), that the story often seems more about parent-child issues than saving the planet. Still, as Eleanor leads the way toward the Himalayas and a possibly climactic attack on the last and most powerful Concentrator, she’ll plainly be facing a new cascade of deadly dangers and soul-wrenching choices. A baroque premise fuels a reasonably adventuresome middle volume.” 

Brittany Larsen. Pride & Politics. Covenant, May 5. Contemporary romance. A religiously inactive daughter of a well-known Mormon Democrat senator meets up with the son of a Mormon Republican presidential candidate. Debut novel.

Melanie Jacobson. 5 stars. “This is the perfect fun, swoony antidote for the current political season. The story is kind of like what would happen if one of Harry Reid’s kids dated one of Mitt Romney’s kids. If you get why that’s funny, you’ll love this book. I love Summer, the main character, and her sassiness. It’s funny and smart and witty and all the good things. A perfect escape.”

Bloggin’ ‘bout Books, B. “While no contemporary version can equal the original in pure charm, Larsen gives it an admirable go.  Like Austen, the author examines her own people with a sharp eye, offering up some bold and surprising observations.  In fact, that’s what I like most about Pride & Politics—it doesn’t shy away from addressing some of Mormonism’s toughest, most divisive issues.  Without being hypercritical, it teaches a truth people have a hard time believing: Latter-Day Saints aren’t always, well, saints.  Although the story gets heavy at times, mostly it’s not.  Summer’s voice is bright, funny, and real, keeping the tone of the novel light. Like Pride & Prejudice, plot is not this book’s strong point.  Still, it’s entertaining.  While Benson is no Mr. Darcy (too nice, maybe?) and Summer is no Lizzy Bennet (too self-centered?), Pride & Politics is still swoony enough to elicit romantic sighs.  All in all, I enjoyed it.  Quite thoroughly, as a matter of fact.”

Gerald N. Lund. To Soar with Eagles. Deseret Book, May. Historical. San Juan Pioneers #3. Continues the story of settlers in southeastern Utah, this time in 1888 to 1919. It connects their story with Lund’s Fire and Steel series about the 20^th century wars.

Annette Lyon. War of Hearts. Blue Ginger Books, April 17. Historical romance novella. “In December of 1939, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her ex-boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She finds that Pete is there too.”

Adam Miller. Future Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology. Greg Kofford Books, May 17. Religious/philosophical essays. “I worry that a lot of what has mattered most to me in this world—Mormonism in particular—may be largely unintelligible to [my children] in theirs. This problem isn’t new, but it is perpetually urgent. Every generation must start again. Every generation must work out their own salvation. Every generation must live its own lives and think its own thoughts and receive its own revelations. And, if Mormonism continues to matter, it will be because they, rather than leaving, were willing to be Mormon all over again . . . These essays are a modest contribution in this vein, a future tense apologetics meant for future Mormons. They model, I hope, a thoughtful and creative engagement with Mormon ideas while sketching, without obligation, possible directions for future thinking.”

Jenny Webb, AML. “Future Mormon gathers thirteen essays that, as a whole, paint an intriguing picture of Miller as theologian . . . Unsurprisingly, Miller continues his work on the topics of grace, truth, law, and love, grounding them in the earthy realities of this world, this life, this time, and this space. For Miller, the toothy grip of Mormonism lies in its insistence on and embrace of the quotidian as a fit vehicle for the divine. Mormons, in Miller’s view, are not on a journey through the earth and into some nebulous eternity filled with nameless joys and indecipherable prayers. Rather, Mormons live earthly lives as aggregate, bringing heaven to earth and earth to heaven . . . Miller reads and responds in his own way to a diverse set of texts and authors: Paul, Bruce R. McConkie, Nephi, Jacob, Melville, Givens, Uchtdorf, Lacan (via Bruce Fink and Marcus Pound), Latour, Cormac McCarthy, Joseph Smith, and, at root, Jesus Christ. Each author, regardless of religious affiliation (or lack thereof), says something that, when read carefully, causes Miller to engage in the kind of theological speculation otherwise known as charity. That is, Miller reads *connectively*, weaving divergent voices and views into the warp and weft of Mormonism. It’s not the size of the tent that counts so much here as the familial fabric that forms the tent itself . . . Miller may write for [his children], but we are lucky to have his words and work now, in our lives today. Go read this book. Enjoy it. It’s some of Miller’s best work to date, and it’s a powerful invitation. One you won’t regret accepting.

Angela C, By Common Consent. “Adam Miller’s new book is laid out in a series of digestible-length short essays.  Reading his essays is like talking to a smarter, more esoteric friend or maybe sitting next to a chatty and interesting professor on a flight . . . This is a collection of thirteen essays, starting promisingly with A General Theory of Grace, a topic that is a real specialty for Adam.  He expounds on one of the most insidious aspects of Mormon culture, the almost-verbalized notion that through strict obedience we can be saved . . . The gospel as Adam expounds it in Future Mormon is challenging, but like all good exercise, the work needed to understand these ideas feels productive.  I broke a good mental sweat.”

Adrienne Monson. Deliverance. Jolly Fish, May 31. YA paranormal. Blood Inheritance Trilogy, #3. “In this epic finale to the Blood Inheritance Trilogy, the ultimate battle between vampires and immortals erupts as they discover Liam’s purpose as the prophecy child.”

Jolene Perry and C. Desir. Love Blind. Simon Pulse, May 10. Young adult general.

Booklist: “Knowing she won’t have her vision forever, legally blind teenager Hailey makes a list of her fears—the things she wants to conquer while she can still see. While confronting one of these fears, being on a radio show, she meets Kyle. He’s the mumbling, socially awkward counterpart to the uninhibited, sometimes brash Hailey. In chapters alternating between their POVs, both step outside their comfort zones, taking chances, fumbling in lust, and becoming friends in the process. But will they ever take the ultimate risk, letting their friendship turn into something more? Though the lists don’t frame the plot as directly as in other list-based novels, there is still much to appreciate here, such as frank, realistic dialogue and on-scene parents. As the adopted daughter of lesbian moms, Hailey doesn’t have conflicted feelings about her adoption, something less frequently found in fiction but reflective of the realities of many adopted teens. Readers will root for Kyle and Hailey to come together and admire their personal growth along the way.”

SLJ: “Partnering up for this emotionally charged novel, Desir and Perry create a duo readers will identify with and cheer for. As the teens set out to conquer their fears, the sexual tension quickly builds, with both refusing to accept the depth of their mutual attraction. Hailey is confident, stubborn, and funny and isn’t afraid to show her sassy side. Meanwhile, Kyle is shy and awkward. The authors combine perfect pacing with spot-on character development that will leave readers empathizing with the characters from the very beginning. The plot takes several unexpected turns; it hits hard, exploring issues such as depression, loss of virginity, and homosexuality. VERDICT For fans of Sophie Kinsella’s Finding Audrey and Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places.

Kirkus: “Unfortunately, the plot’s long list of teen issues courts stereotypes and gives short shrift to poignant incidents and likable secondary characters. The kids’ awareness of these stereotypes only highlights them; for instance, when Hailey feels Kyle’s face so she’ll “know how to see people when [she’s] blind,” Kyle thinks, “I’d seen that in movies, but people really did that?” (Generally, they don’t, which is acknowledged in the text, but Hailey still does it.) Two characters’ disparate reactions to a shared trauma sympathetically raise questions of survivor guilt and denial, but one character quotes platitudes so relentlessly that, lacking further development, he risks being reduced to a plucky sidekick. While teens have complicated lives that don’t necessarily unfold in order of importance, such nuanced subjects as post-traumatic stress don’t deserve to be foils for the sake of a romance.”

Karen Tuft. The Earl’s Betrothal. Covenant, May 5. Regency romance. “Out of the war and into another, Captain Lord Anthony Hargreaves finds the politics of romance to be as uninviting a battle as the one that nearly cost him his life in the Peninsular War in Spain, in 1812.”

Jenniffer Wardell. Dreamless. Jolly Fish, May 17. Young adult fairy tale. Retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

FJR Titchnell: 4 stars. “The Downside: The identical tone of unremitting sarcasm across all character voices, dry yet never risking a moment of understatement, makes the conversations feel formulaic after a while and undercuts the moments of sincerity. The Upside: Elena and Cam are an appealing couple, both dignified and understandably reserved characters who allow themselves to lean on each other with all the hesitation their situation calls for, and with all the inevitability of love. The emphasis on the pair of them learning to work together rather than against each other in misguided efforts to keep each other safe is a particularly refreshing and romantic departure from fairytale tradition. This is not a modernized retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story so much as it is a story that borrows the sleeping curse set piece of Sleeping Beauty as its inspiration, a difference which works entirely in its favor. Rather than try to dress up the same old damsel story in distracting new accessories, Dreamless takes possibly the most passive of the classic fairytale princesses and satisfyingly remakes the story around her chance to fight against her impending helplessness. This may be the subtlest jab it makes at its fairytale source material, amid its lovable ghosts and cowardly princes, but it’s the sharpest, the one that lets all the rest fall into place.”

Dan Wells. Over Your Dead Body. Tor, May 3. Horror. John Cleaver #5. “John and Brooke are on their own, hitchhiking from town to town as they hunt the last of the Withered through the midwest—but the Withered are hunting them back, and the FBI is close behind.”

PW: “Sympathetic and insightful teen sociopath John Wayne Cleaver battles literal external demons as well as his metaphorical ones in the strong fifth entry in Wells’s contemporary horror series . . . John’s attempts to deal with his desire to kill, his contradictory feelings toward Brooke, and the mundane struggles of their nomadic existence make the tale much richer than a simple monster vs. monster story.”

E. B. Wheeler. Born to Treason. Cedar Fort/Sweetwater, May 10. Historical. About a Catholic noblewoman in Wales during the reign of Elizabeth I, determined to be loyal to her faith in the face of persecution. Second novel.

Elizabeth, Reading for Sanity (4 stars). “Wheeler did an amazing job with this book.  It’s a quick and engaging read, and one I found very easy to get lost in.  Joan’s character is very likable, concerned with what she sees as her duty as a noblewoman and a Catholic.  While she chafes under the restrictions placed upon her by Queen Elizabeth and by her own limitations as a woman, she searches for ways to blossom.  It almost felt like a distant cousin of Beauty and the Beast, but without a lifetime of servitude. Although the story is set in Elizabethan Wales, I loved how relatable some of Joan’s problems were.  Inequality, prejudice, fear-mongering, and poverty are universal struggles, and Wheeler deals with them in a way that is optimistically uplifting.  I would easily pass this book to a teen (11+) as a summer read.”

Shelia, LDSWBR. “This book is a historical fiction book that was written by someone that knows their history. It is always so obvious when an author has done the hard work to get details right . . . This story has a slow start, but as things progress, you get to learn more about Joan and the kind of person she is. The reader soon sees that Joan is truly at heart very kind and caring and wanting to help the oppressed. She is courageous and fights for her beliefs, even with her own life at stake. Though there is some romance in the story, this book’s strong points revolve around the adventure and mystery as she becomes wrapped up in the intrigue of secretly fighting for her people, the Welsh, and her beloved Catholic church. I felt on edge a lot while reading this story hoping that Joan and the others would succeed in their quest for freedom . . . There are some twists and turns in the story, especially having to do with the romance that fully blossoms near the end of the book. I can assure you that it will make you smile. This book will make readers of historical fiction and historical romance feel very fulfilled when finished. This clean read can be enjoyed by older teens and adults.”

G. G. Vandagriff. Loving Roxie. Orson Whitney Press (self), May 17. Contemporary romance/mystery. Set in Florence, with an art mystery.

Julie Wright. Four Chambers. Heart Stone Press, May 1. Contemporary romance. Power of the Matchmaker, #5. The man who has always been Andra’s bad luck talisman comes back into her life.

Reviews of older books

Traci Hunter Abramson. Royal Brides (Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine). “Abramson creates a royal family of real people who talk, laugh, worry, and share their lives with their staff members who are more employees than servants. The CIA operatives and the security people are also realistic. A couple of characters are a little too obnoxious, but then some real people are like that. The conclusion was mostly satisfying, but I never felt the perpetrator was bright enough to create such elaborate schemes . . . This is the third book in Abramson’s “Royal” series, but it easily stands alone. It enhances the story and is fun to know the stories behind other characters who are secondary in this one, though not essential to enjoying Royal Brides. Mystery/Suspense fans will love this one, though I’ll admit I’m partial to her Saint Squad Series.”

Nancy Cambell Allen. My Fair Gentleman (Sheila Staley) 4 stars. “My Fair Gentleman takes the idea of My Fair Lady, which came from the play Pygmalion, and twists it around for some Proper Romance Fun . . . Readers will find so much to love in this novel, from the chapter headings from “Mistress Manners’ Tips for Every-day Etiquette” such as, “When making a new acquaintance, always present a pleasant face and a kindly manner”, to the repartee and flirting between the main characters, and of course the romance that slowly unfolds much to the dismay, surprise, and chagrin of Jack and Ivy. You will be charmed by this story and be left with wanting more from these characters and this author.”

Michael Collings. An Annotated Space Operea! (Michael Phillip Cash). “There is an episode of Seinfeld where Jerry and Elaine are watching a movie, I want to say it was Chunnel, and they are having a dialog, a running commentary throughout the entire movie. Michael Collings has done a similar feat. He has created an opus for B space movies with a Greek chorus interpreting, interrupting, and raising a rousing ruckus that tickles not just the funny bone but the entire cerebral cortex. You can’t measure the true love and dedication of Trekkies, Star War fans, Space Station Nine Groupies, or even people who adore The Blob, The Thing, or The Ring fanatics. Their attention to detail, the hours devoted to discussions on non-existent technology, the obsession over getting the minutia of artificial universes to make perfect sense and is as amusing as it is admiral. Michael Collings takes a sharp stick and pokes fun at the neurotic interests of sci-fi geeks and raises the bar for the genre . . . In Collings’ capable hands, the subject is real, happening in real time. He has given it the respect as a scholar, mixed in legitimacy, tempered it with respect, yet infused it with humor and warmth. He is not making fun of the genre, he has embraced it with love, finding the sweet spot to laugh with it, not at it. If he writes another, all I have to say is , “Beam me up, Scotty!”

Ally Condie. Summerlost (Rosalyn Eves) 5 stars. “The story is driven by the characters, particularly by Cedar, who is still coming to terms with her loss and her tangled relationship with her brother Ben, who died (Ben has autism, like one of Condie’s sons, though this is never spelled out in the book). I thought it was a lovely meditation on family, friendship, and grief. I loved Cedar’s relationship with her surviving brother and her new friendship, and the resolution of the story made me cry (in a good, cathartic kind of way). Mostly, though, the story reads as a love letter to the town where Condie grew up (and the town where I now live), and for that alone I would have loved the book . . . A sweet, tender, must-read middle grade.”

Ally Condie. Summerlost (Wm Morris) 4 stars. “This is light and dark, spare and expansive, simple and poetic, low stakes and high stakes. It’s all that I like about Condie’s work (with the bonus of a few Mormon-related easter eggs). Plus Shakespeare!”

Julie Daines. Eleanor and the Iron King (Jessie Christensen). “This book surprised me because I expected it to be more cheesy than it was. It’s a bit of a mishmash of a romance and supernatural thriller, but the medieval setting makes that work somehow. The main character got on my nerves sometimes because she really took a long time to stop being dumb and start trusting the right people, but the supporting characters were all great and I also loved the setting.”

Lindsay B. Ferguson. By The Stars (Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine) 3 stars. “Ferguson does an excellent job portraying the battles and terrain of the fighting on the South Pacific islands which was different and continued longer than the European side of the war. The battles, the shortage of food, and the losses suffered by the G.I.s as a whole and personally are some of the strongest aspects of the story. Cal is portrayed well and is a strong, likable character, though his reluctance to pursue Kate and his failure to be completely honest with the girl he’d been dating for a couple of years before his mission make him appear indecisive and somewhat weak. Kate is harder to like as she appears flighty and lies to be able to spend a couple of weeks on the training base. The basic story is captivating and an enjoyable read, but the story- within-a-story technique the author employed is a distraction. It begins with the narrator interviewing 93 year-old Cal about his life. Since this story is based on the life of a real World War II veteran, I assume the author chose to use this method to emphasize this point, though in my opinion, it would have been better to just tell the story strictly as a novel.”

Shannon and Dean Hale. The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde (MySF Reviews) 4 stars. “The Hales continue to tell a fun tale. Despite being written for the younger crowd, The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde will still be enjoyable and fun to read out loud to your young ones. Especially out loud, in fact. With the bright and colorful illustrations, and the quirky humor in the story, this book can bring a whole new level of fun to reading time. If there is one fault to the book, it is that the story is very basic. This is not one of Shannon’s young adult novels, and there is not enough space to really develop the story to the same degree as in a regular novel. However, this is a great introduction for the younger crowd to the unique brand of humor which is found throughout all of her books. If you come into this book (or any of the books in the series) expecting deepness, you will be disappointed.”

Charlie Holmberg. The Glass Magician (MySF Reviews) 3.5 stars. “The story was paced well—as in the first book—and there is quite a bit more happening this time, with a lot more characters involved . . . Perhaps I am too far removed from that age to remember how irrational I may have been was at the time. As someone barely graduated from teenagehood, perhaps she just wasn’t up to all that “adulting” quite yet, and so subconsciously reverted to a “safer” time. It was rather inconvenient for the plot, though, as I generally like to see characters discernibly growing and learning as I progress through a book or series . . . Despite all the above, I still enjoyed The Glass Magician. It was a bit weaker than the first book, but it was still an enjoyable read. If you like a fun adventure with interesting magic set in Edwardian times, with a little light romance thrown in for good measure, I recommend reading these books. I’m already reading the final book in the series.”

Lynne Larson. Loving Leah (Bloggin’ ‘bout Books) B. “You all know by now that I’m not a huge fan of LDS fiction. Too often it’s cheesy, poorly written, and unrealistic. Overall quality in the genre is improving, though, and Loving Leah, a historical romance by Lynne Larson, is an excellent case in point. Using a lesser-known event from the Civil War as a backdrop, the author creates a tense, exciting setting that brings a time and place I knew little about to vivid life. The characters are intriguing, mostly because they’re realistically flawed. Even the lovely and virtuous Leah makes mistakes. Because these story people feel so human, it’s easy to empathize with their plight. I cared about what happened to them. Although the book talks a lot about the Gospel, it never gets too preachy. All of these elements combine to make Loving Leah a compelling, convincing read. Its ending broke my heart a little, but overall, I enjoyed this one very much. I’ll definitely be watching eagerly to see what this author does next.”

Lynne Larson. Loving Leah (Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine). “The plot is divided into two segments; the war years when Ethan is still a child and the post war period when he becomes an adult. The author presents the awful dilemmas that both Leah and Ethan face in a heartbreakingly realistic manner. Both the plot and the setting show careful research into the tragic massacre of civilians by deserters and criminals, not only in Lawrence, but all along the frontier during and immediately following the war, that receives little attention in today’s references to the Civil War. The ending is strong, but not what the reader may expect. It does, however, fit the story . . . The second part of the book involves the Church more, but still is not preachy and there’s little explanation for the conversions that take place.:

Patrick Madden. Sublime Physick (Kellie Purcill, Segullah). “WHY, I asked myself in the first 10 pages, why I am I reading about someone’s history with spitting and being so entertained by it?  Within a couple of more pages, I decided not to think about the why, but to enjoy the madness, the brilliance, and the side gallops while following the rumpus of the story. Madden takes one-off thoughts (seconds wasted in an elevator), unusual events (the visit of a respected author), the everyday actions not normally focused on (kissing a spouse), a whole gamut of usually unnoticed moments and builds essays around them.  Essays with humour (“Backward and forward, forward and backward (drawkcab dna drawrof niaga)” p. 207)) with contemplation, with supporting quotes, historical tidbits and witty asides that drag you in, dazzle, and make you look at the ordinary moments of life as anything but “every day” . . . Sublime Physick is a wonderfully meaty collection of essays and personal stories, with the incentive to challenge yourself to pay attention to each offering, suck the juices from the words, savour the situations and then find the scents Madden shares already drifting through your own life.”

Valynne Maetani. Ink and Ashes (Melissa McShane Proffit, Dialogue). “Valynne E. Maetani’s debut young adult novel is a tightly-plotted thriller, with plenty of misdirection and tension. It’s also a story about identity, family, and love. This ought to make it weak, neither one thing nor the other. What gives this novel strength is the interconnection between the two stories. Claire, in tracking down the mystery of who her yakuza father was, grows to better understand who she is—sister, friend, daughter, and woman . . . Strong stories with non-traditional protagonists are unfortunately rare in young adult fiction. With Claire, Ink and Ashes brings a much-desired diversity to the field, portraying a young woman not only learning to be herself, but discovering her Asian-American heritage as well. Maetani’s debut novel handles questions of identity, courage, and love adeptly, while simultaneously telling an interesting story—a fine achievement, and an enjoyable read.”

Jennifer Moore. Lady Helen Finds her Song (Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine). “Moore is a Regency writer who manages to stay within the protocol of the time period, but still create female characters whom modern readers can find strong, intelligent, and independent. She walks a fine line between the proper behavior expected of a Regency heroine and the strengths expected of a modern heroine. She places her characters in situations and places beyond the drawing and ball rooms of the ton. The setting and background are carried out with meticulous historical accuracy. The love story is tender and sweet set against a background of diversity, violent upheaval, and captivating action. Needless to say, Moore has become the darling of the modern Regency reader. Even those who don’t generally read Regency Romance will enjoy this one.”

Jenny Proctor. Love at First Note (Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine) 2 stars. “This story is “chick lit” and the characters behave as though they are much younger than they’re really supposed to be.  That’s part of the identifying features of this type of romance which is generally light, modern, and a little sassy or flippant. Their immersion in music and the emotions music generates in them is a critical element of both Emma and Elliott’s make-up. Being tone deaf, I really couldn’t identify with the characters though I was impressed with the amount of music research that went into this novel. Though the relationship seems more like a junior high crush than one of deep, lasting love, it takes on greater depth as the protagonists discover some truths about themselves.”

Elizabeth Reid. Cavlin (Elizabeth Reid, Deseret News) 4 stars. “Martine Leavitt makes schizophrenia incredibly realistic as the story is told from the first-person perspective as a letter from Calvin to Watterson. It’s easy to empathize with Calvin and his struggles to maintain a grasp on reality, while at the same time cheering for his tenacity and bravery. While the book’s middle drags a bit, the beginning and ending more than make up for any deficiencies. Susie and Calvin are wonderfully depicted, and reading about their romance is delightful.”

A. L. Sowards, The Spider and the Sparrow (Melissa McShane Proffit, Goodreads). “Much as I liked Warren and Claire, I think the book would have been tighter if it had stuck strictly to the POVs of Julian and Evette. Julian’s development as a character is particularly good, as he goes from being a simple poilu to having sympathy for the German family he works for as his cover. But both romances are sweet and satisfying, and I would be sad to lose Warren’s story. The ending is rather melodramatic–which is to say the villain suddenly turns out to have a flair for gruesome death hitherto unrevealed–but in general everyone’s scars are well-earned, and I was glad to have read it.”’

Robison Wells. Dark Energy (MySF Reviews) 4 stars. “I have several books by Robison Wells, but Dark Energy is the first one to make it to the top of my “To read” list . . . Near the end, the story picked up the pace significantly. Perhaps too much. The story could have used another 20 pages or so to make the ending feel less rushed. As I mentioned above, I thought the mythology was handled respectfully, so I don’t have a problem with that. However, having more time to explore the mythology and culture being presented in those pages would have been nice. I enjoyed this book. It is a solid read, and I hope Wells puts out more in this particular universe. I think there could be a number of good stories lurking about within it. If you like unusual alien contact stories, Dark Energy is a good one. I recommend it!

Mercedes M. Yardley. Pretty Little Dead Girls (Michael Collings). “Given the results of the 2016 Bram Stoker Awards, and especially the public responses to her receiving the award for Superior Work in Long Fiction . . . It is brilliant. From the opening line to the last, Yardley conjures images of death and horror, murder and mayhem…and constant, refreshing whimsy . . . In much the same way that the moors becomes an almost sentient character in Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, Yardley’s conception of the desert—vast, empty, inimical to everyone but especially to Bryony—becomes a crucial part of the novel. And Yardley handles it…well, brilliantly. Pretty Little Dead Girls is a relatively quick read, primarily because so much happens that readers have little sense of external time passing. It is delightful to watch Yardley manipulate words, language, situations, and characters so that any one moment might be simultaneously horrifying, mystifying, and—to use her own description—whimsical . . . Highly recommended.”

Margaret Blair Young and Darius Aidan Gray. One More River to Cross (audiobook) (Trudy Thompson, AML). “This is a well written, and well narrated, story, combining the early days of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with the tragic story of slavery in America. The extreme prejudice, hatred, and mistreatment of blacks, contrasted with the compassion and helpfulness not only of early leaders of the Church but also the Quaker families en-route, who provided them with food, a place to sleep and direction to stay within their network of fellow Christians, makes for a spell-binding tale of love, loss, faith, redemption and forgiveness. It offers a fresh new perspective on this time period of our nation’s history.

Jeff Zentner. The Serpent King (Rosalyn Eves) 5 stars. “Jeff Zentner’s debut is a little out of my usual wheelhouse–a more serious contemporary YA. But there’s no doubt that this is a remarkable book: characters that stay with you long after the story has ended, a bitter-sweet exploration of friendship and small town life and the indelible affects both past and place have . . . The plot, as plots go, isn’t high concept or fast paced. But the book has a way of gripping you and not letting go. The prose is gorgeous (probably award-winning), and the characters–in all their flawed, wondrous glory–are heart-breaking and hopeful. I would not be at all surprised to see Zentner go on to astound us.

Jeff Zentner. The Serpent King (Hikari Loftus) 5 stars. “I am not sure what I was expecting from this read, but I didn’t expect to be sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket, sobbing my eyes out until 1 am. (Rivals Clockwork Princess tears). This is something you have to experience for yourself, because it’s hard to put into words. This is beautiful, painful, maddening, and heartbreaking. Zentner doesn’t sew it up completely pretty either, which lets the sadness in this story feel real—like you’ve been scrubbed raw, but you’re hopeful and healing. Whether you believe in God or not (or whatever way you believe in God) this was extremely thought provoking on what it means to have Faith and to be faithful. While it portrays an extremist type of faith in Dill’s parents, I believe that some of the feelings and situations spread out to anyone who lives religiously to any degree.”

Jeff Zentner. The Serpent King (Jessie Christensen). “There are so many things I loved about this book, I’m not even sure where to start. The three main characters had the potential to just be stereotypes, but they were all well-developed and sympathetic. The book tackles a number of heavy themes in an even-handed way, and the presence of religion was particularly handled well. I also really liked the relationships between the characters and their parents because they were complicated and nuanced, just like most parent-teen relationships. Too many teen books I’ve read either have the parents completely clueless in the background, or the source of all problems. This book has a little of both, and one character has some major epiphanies through conversations with their parents. This was one of the better YA books I’ve read in a while and I would definitely recommend it (probably best for older teens based on the subject matter–the content is fairly free from swear words and sex).”

Drama

Jamie Erekson, Music and Libretto. The Lost Children of Hamelin. A new opera, premiering at BYU on June 8-11. Watch the trailer here.

Film

AML Award-winning documentary Peace Officer was televised nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens early in May.

Saturday’s Warrior. Box office: $569,120 in seven weeks. High of 28 theaters at a time. Reports of daily receipts at Box Office Mojo ended on May 18, but it appears to be still playing in a five theaters in Utah and Arizona.

Bestsellers

May 15, 22, 29, June 5

Christine Feehan. Fire Bound

USA Today: #3, #25, #63, #139 (4 weeks)

PW Mass Market: #1, #6, #12, #18 (4 weeks). 22,504, 13,001, 6695, 5035 units. 47,235 total.

NYT Mass Market: #1, #8, #13, x (3 weeks)

NYT Combined Print and E-book: #4, x, x, x (1 week)

NYT E-book fiction: #3, x, x, x (1 week)

RaeAnne Thayne. Willowleaf Lane

USA Today: x, #137, x, x (1 week)

Amy Harmon, et al. Coming Home

USA Today, x, x, x, #39 (1 week)

Liesel Shurtliff. Jack

NYT Middle Grade Paperback: x, x, #8, x (1 week)