There has been a flood of books the last two months. The Mormon academic presses (The Maxwell Institute and Greg Kofford Books) have started to publish more literary works, including Ashley Mae Hoiland’s creative non-fiction One Hundred Birds Taught me to Fly, and Scott Hales graphic novel The Garden of Enid: Adventures of a Weird Mormon Girl.
In the national market for adults, there is Stephenie Meyer’s new thriller The Chemist, Andrew Hunt’s 1938 Salt Lake City mystery Desolation Flats, Amy Harmon’s romantic thriller From Sand and Ash, and Dan Wells’ satirical thriller Extreme Makeover.
As always it is the national market young adult and middle grade novels which fill these columns. They include, on the younger side: Steven Bohls’ Jed and the Junkyard War, Shelly Brown’s Ghostsitter, Shannon and Dean Hale’s The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation, Tess Hilmo’s Cinnamon Moon, and Elaine Vickers’s Like Magic. For young adults, there are strong reviews for Dean Hughes’s WWII drama Four-Four-Two, Aprilynne Pike’s dystopian Glitter, and Carol Lynch Williams’ paranormal Messenger. Please send news and corrections to mormonlit AT gmail DOT com.
New Books and their reviews
Traci Hunter Abramson. Kept Secrets. Covenant, Oct. 3. Romantic thriller. A secret CIA operative is unable to tell his new wife about his job. Goes to Hong Kong, meets trouble.
Dan Allen. Fall of the Dragon Prince. Jolly Fish, Nov. 15. YA fantasy. Forgotten Heirs trilogy #1. Debut novel. “Toran joined the five realms and tied their destinies to the survival of his secret heirs. But the king is now dead and his enemies gather. Reann, a serving girl and self-appointed librarian of Toran’s estate, has a chance to unravel the greatest mystery in the realm. On the other side of the kingdom, Terith and the other dragon riders fight to stop the invasion that would mean the fall of the empire.”
Nancy Campbell Allen. Timeless Romance Single: From Cairo, With Love. Mirror Press, Nov. 1. Historical Romance, short novel. British travelers to Venice and Egypt, looks to be Victorian age or so.
Heidi Ashworth. O’er The River Liffey. Dunhaven Place (self), June 1. Power of the Matchmaker, #6. Romance.
Matthew James Babcock. Points of Reference. Folded Word, March 17. Debut poetry collection chapbook from the BYU-Idaho faculty member, who has published many short stories and essays. “In POINTS OF REFERENCE, Matthew James Babcock takes us on a roadtrip through poems as vast and straight as Montana highways. On this roadtrip, the sun is unleaded. The air smells of diesel and thawed manure. The laughter of fifth graders accompanies the migration of crows. POINTS OF REFERENCE takes us to a land where a park-invasion by teenagers transforms into the Battle of Agincourt, where Henry Ford is simultaneously reviled and revered, and where family still – always – comes first. “
Matthew James Babcock. Strange Terrain. MadHat Press, Sept. Full poetry book. “What I love most—and there are many things—about Babcock’s Strange Terrain is the precision and specificity of place, person, and object, and how it is so elegantly juxtaposed in these poems by the internal terrain of all these speakers and characters and the poet himself . . . All of Strange Terrain added up for me to a beautifully uncomfortable knowing of myself, the West, the everyday, the grandiose, the banal, [and] the ineffable.” — Christian Winn, Idaho Writer-in-Residence.
“Prepare yourself for sonnets and études, sestinas and sapphics. Prepare too for a rollicking good time. I love the daring range of these poems and Babcock’s nervy delivery—everyday experience shot through with awe and irony. Under each one should be written “I somehow survived.”” —Lance Larsen, Utah Poet Laureate.
Laura D. Bastain. The Way it Should Be. Trifecta Books, Nov. 3. Contemporary romance.
Marlene Bateman. For Sale by Owner. Covenant, Oct. 3. Contemporary LDS romance.
Aimee, Getting Your Read On. 2.5 stars. “The story itself left me wanting a bit. I just didn’t find myself connecting with or loving the characters in this book. Kenzie is just off putting. I really didn’t like her much at all. And Jared just felt flat. The connection between them didn’t work for me.”
Bookworm Lisa. 4 stars. “This is a cute Christmas season book that has two characters who have obvious interest in each other but have come to an impasse over real estate . . . The romance is fun and the banter between Jared and Kenzie is pretty good. I like how they seem to push the others buttons, but at the same time there is a reluctant respect for the other. This book was perfect to read while it was storming outside. This is a fun romance book that cuddling up with a blanket and hot chocolate was perfect.”
Sian Ann Bessey. To Win a Lady’s Heart. Covenant, Nov. 1. Medieval romance. Medieval lords, ladies, commoners, and an archery contest. Bookworm Lisa: 4 Stars. Jennie Hansen: 5 stars.
Stephanie Black. Not a Word. Covenant, Nov. 1. Thriller. A psychologist, a family rift, and a stalker.
Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine. 5 stars. “A suspense novel filled with one psychological twist after another . . . Black has earned four Whitney awards for her mystery novels for solid reasons. She is adept at creating characters who feel real and creating plausible scenarios where any character might be the guilty party. Such is the case in Not a Word. She builds in a background that never intrudes, but provides an element of reality that suits her characters. It’s not easy for mystery aficionados to guess the villain’s identity early and the story’s ending provides the adrenalin kick that makes her readers return for more. By the way, Not a Word has one of the most striking covers of all of her books.”
Mindy Holt, 5 stars. “The action and suspense in this book does not stop until the last page. There are so many twists that had me at the edge of my seat. Stephanie truly is a master at writing books. She plants the perfect seeds throughout, many times I was flipping back and forth to remind myself of things. The POV switches are perfect. It was the perfect way to keep me turning pages fast and to see different character views.”
Steven Bohls. Jed and the Junkyard War. Disney/Hyperion, Dec. 6. Middle grade fantasy. Debut novel. A 12-year old boy from a regular family wakes to find his parents missing, and something wrong. “Jed just doesn’t realize it’s floating-city, violent-junk-storm, battling-metals, Frankensteined-scavengers kind of wrong. A cryptic list of instructions leads Jed into a mysterious world at war over . . . junk. Here, batteries and bottled water are currency, tremendously large things fall from the sky, and nothing is exactly what it seems.”
PW: “This offbeat debut thrusts 12-year-old Jed Jenkins into an alternate universe where boats fly through the air and wage battle over a vast landscape of junk . . . Bohls builds a high-stakes story line, a memorably off-kilter world and a loopy cast of junkyard sailors. Although the story bogs down somewhat during its chaotic middle chapters, the cliffhanger ending will keep readers eager for the next installment in this planned duology.”
SLJ: “A solid futuristic pirate tale with a quest element that fantasy readers will enjoy. The surprising conclusion leaves many questions unanswered; perhaps a sequel will tie up loose ends.”
Kirkus: “A well-wrought debut with enough of a start on both the plot and worldbuilding to leave readers impatient for the follow-up.”
Carol Pratt Bradley. Fire of the Word. WiDo Publishing, Nov. 2. Historical. Henry VIII-era Britain and the battles of the English Reformation.
Aaron Blaylock. The Unsaid. Bonneville/Cedar Fort, Oct. 11. LDS speculative. A heavenly recorder of unspoken thoughts decides to break the rules and help a mortal.
Bookworm Lisa: 3.5 stars. “I really enjoyed Eric’s sarcastic voice. Yup, I guess you can guess where most of my thoughts are categorized as? He is full of humor in his head. Half of the things he thinks would get him in a lot of trouble, but that is the fun of the inner dialogue. He has a big heart and is full of compassion . . . I found this book to be about listening to the inner voice that is trying to lead you to be better. It is about helping those who are less fortunate. It is about standing up for your friends and your values. It is about the power of love and forgiveness, even forgiving yourself.”
Shelly Brown. Ghostsitter. Future House, Oct. 11. MG speculative. A popular girl and an outcast boy find they share the same ability to see ghosts. Brown is married to LDS author Chad Morris.
Rosalyn Eves. 4 stars. “A darling story with just the right amount of creepy for young readers. Tiffany is determined to have a perfect year: she’ll win student-body president, which will increase her popularity and guarantee her the middle-school life she wants. Unfortunately, Tiffany isn’t counting on the trio of young ghosts who attach themselves to her (that no one else can see), or the need to defend said ghosts from an old evil. And the only one who can help her is her childhood friend Justin, who also sees ghosts–and who, as a result, is universally considered weird and might be fatal to her popularity. As Tiffany struggles to win her nomination and get rid of her (initially) unwanted attachments, hilarity ensues. Tiffany is by turns smart, funny, and earnest, and readers will cheer as her story progresses.”
Alex Caldiero. Who is the Dancer, What is the Dance. Salt Front Press, Sept. Poetry. Based on a pocket journal that poet Alex Caldiero kept with him during a six-day river trip on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon. In these poems, and the reproduced drawings that accompany, Caldiero explores how we simultaneously impinge upon, and give ourselves over to, a landscape. In these poems, our urban preconceptions falter and adapt to these places we call wild.
Larry Correia and Mike Kapuri. Alliance of Shadows. Baen, Oct. Military thriller. Dead Six #3. “Europe has spiraled into chaos. A conspiracy years in the making combined with general unrest lead to upheaval and revolution. In the midst of the murderous disorder, mercenary Michael Valentine is in Europe with a small team of his Exodus personnel trying to track down the evil and highly dangerous Katarina Montalban. She has initiated a mysterious plot to do away with those who stand between her and ultimate power.”
Elitist Book Reviews: “Dead Six is a quite the departure from Larry’s other series. ALLIANCE OF SHADOWS features the same emphasis on badass heroes, believable villains, well crafted plots, and stunning action scenes as his other series, but is set firmly in the military techno thriller genre. There are no overtly supernatural elements to the trilogy . . . The best part of the story [is] the conspiracy theory stuff . . . This series has got shadowy organizations, mind control experiments on human subjects, plots to overthrow foreign governments, a global vigilante task force labeled terrorists by authorities, a family crime empire, assassinations, and more . . . It is extremely refreshing to read a story where the action heroes don’t escape the crucible entirely intact and they may not be 100% successful in saving the day. Larry Correia has once again proven himself the unmatched king of action scenes and Mike Kupari is a highly capable writer with a bright future in the industry.”
Richard Paul Evans. The Mistletoe Secret. Simon & Schuster, Nov. 15. Christmas romance. Mistletoe #3. A fan seeks out an anonymous blogger who writes about her loneliness, finds her in Midway, Utah.
Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham. The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation. Candlewick/Walker, Nov. 8. Young readers picture/chapter book.
Kirkus: “The dual storylines keep the pace exciting, and—even though the protagonist is sleepy—the art is energetic and charming. Princess Magnolia has fair skin, Duff’s is a little bit darker, and the beachgoers are pleasingly diverse. As always, hilarious; perhaps the strongest Princess in Black outing since the first.”
Amy Harmon. From Sand and Ash. Lake Union, Dec. 1. WWII historical. In 1943 Italy, a Catholic priest hides a Jewish woman (who he was in love with before his ordination) in a Church, along with other Jews.
Meg. 5 stars. “Amy Harmon is an extraordinary writer, in my opinion. From Sand and Ash is the type of narrative that readers emotionally invest in, so you carry the impressions and imagery for quite some time. Yes, the impact level is high! Amy’s well-crafted way with words takes you to another place entirely, in the same way music or poetry can. It’s simply beautiful, but it’s also engrossing and has ‘edge of your seat’ suspense. The scenario is deeply painful, complex and confronting, but it’s also a story of happiness, love, hope, self-sacrifice and core beliefs. The historical background and references have been well-researched and are accurate (including the networks that smuggled Jews to safety and away from certain death.) The book also has elements of Romeo and Juliet…star-crossed lovers.”
Scott Hales. The Garden of Enid: Adventures of a Weird Mormon Girl, Part 1. Greg Kofford, Nov. 15. LDS graphic novel. Collection of the strips which were published online in recent years, following the adventures of a misfit Mormon girl. The online versions won an AML Special Award in 2013.
J. Stapley, BCC. “If you haven’t seen Hale’s Garden of Enid comics around on facebook or elsewhere, well I guess you must have boring friends. These are charming and poignant and funny.”
There was a panel discussion of The Garden of Enid at Sound and Vision in Provo on Nov. 16, featuring author Scott Hales, Sunstone Magazine editor Stephen Carter, playwright Melissa Leilani Larson, and Blair Hodges of the Maxwell Institute.
Stacy Henrie. Love for All Seasons. Self, Nov. 9. Historical romance. Four novellas.
Tess Hilmo. Cinnamon Moon. Farrar, Straus and Giroux , Oct. 18. Middle Grade historical. “On the same day as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 250 miles away in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, there was an even more devastating fire. Twelve-year-old Ailis and her younger brother, Quinn, survive, but their family does not. Ailis and Quinn are taken by a family acquaintance to live in a boarding house in Chicago, where they meet six-year-old Nettie, an orphan displaced by Chicago’s fire. But the woman who runs the boarding house makes their lives miserable, and Ailis vows to find a way for the three of them to leave. Ailis finds a job at a millinery shop and Quinn plays his fiddle on the streets so they can save money. Then Nettie disappears, and Ailis and Quinn discover she’s been kidnapped by a group that forces children to work in the sewers killing rats. Can they find a way to rescue her?”
SLJ: “A compelling read about two lesser-known historical events and their aftermath; a strong addition to middle grade collections in need of historical fiction.”
Kirkus: “The mystery surrounding Nettie’s disappearance makes for compelling reading, as does the story’s historical backdrop. Hilmo’s author’s note explains her inspiration for the story and puts it in historical context. A good mix of history and mystery enlivened with interesting, likable characters.”
Mindy Holt, 5 stars. “Tess writes children well, and writes wonderful lessons along with way. I loved this book. The characters were amazing. What I loved about them most, was how they tried to make their terrible situation better by helping themselves . . . There are many tender moments, especially when the siblings talked about and remembered their parents and baby sister that died in the Peshtigo fire. Ida was a complete joy. I loved how she took Ailis under her wing. I felt the ending was beautiful. There is nothing wrong with a happy ending that leaves you feeling good and happy you invested your time in a well-told story.”
Maria Hoagland. Kayaks and Kisses. Trifecta Books, Nov. 1. Contemporary romance.
Ashley Mae Hoiland. One Hundred Birds Taught me to Fly. Maxwell Institute, Nov. 1. An experimental collection of stories, meditations, poetry, and original art. AKA Ashmae, she is blogger at By Common Consent.
Nancy Ross, The Exponent. 5 stars. “It is a truly beautiful book. I instantly fell in love with the writing style, which reminded me of Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson. Hoiland’s book is not in verse, but it reads as though it could be. I appreciated the careful crafting of language and the faceless line-drawn illustrations throughout the book. Before I had read very far, I recommended the book to others and saw friends gush about the prose on Facebook. I have read my fair share of books written by women on faith and religion. Women’s faith memoirs are a popular genre of religion writing these days and have been keeping me afloat spiritually for several years. This book falls into that category, though it does not seek to tell stories in linear way. Hoiland’s ability to weave narratives and themes together with poetic prose is the strength of the book. The style is impeccable . . . This book is worth reading for its language, creative style, and illustrations and would make a great gift for Mormon family members and friends.”
Adam Miller, BCC. “One Hundred Birds Taught Me to Fly is worth the weight of a thousand scholarly studies proving beyond all possible doubt that the Book of Mormon is, in fact, ancient history. Such studies may defend the historicity of scripture (and, certainly, this work has a kind of nobility), but Hoiland’s book does something much more important: it defends the reality of religion—not for a great man caught up in extraordinary events, but for ordinary women and men, doing ordinary things in their own lives, here and now.”
Jason Kerr, BCC. “n addition to being gorgeously written, incisively perceptive, and emotionally rich, Ashmae’s book has the virtue of not even attempting to be magisterial. Crises of faith in institutions don’t get resolved by urging faith in institutions. Rather than attempt to renew trust in institutions, Ashmae writes: “I learned to trust my story” (209).”
Jenny Webb, AML. “Hoiland has a creative soul. This much is clear from even a cursory glance at the various facets of her work. She paints. She fosters community art projects. She’s written and illustrated children’s books. She’s the force behind the We Brave Women cards. And here, in this book, she writes. She writes poetry, she writes prose; she tells stories from her childhood and stories of her children; she records lists that spark recognition memories that bridge the gaps between her life and mine. Her writing is devotional, with a sharp intelligence that calmly questions her faith without undermining its potency. Through it all, through all the words, and all the line drawings (which, of course, Hoiland has done herself to illustrate both the book and the larger connection between aesthetics and faith), she seeks gods.”
Dean Hughes. Four-Four-Two. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Nov. 8. YA historical. Action-packed story of Japanese Americans experiencing internment, then serving in the United States Army in World War II.
Kirkus (Starred): “They learn that honor is not a public display but rather something earned (or not) by comrades undergoing extreme hardship and covering one another’s backs. Hughes sends these men through the wringer. They endure foot rot and the stress of taking the next hill (which is worse is up for grabs), and they also grapple with the consequences: how does one reconcile shooting a kid, even if he’s an enemy soldier? Yuki reflects that “what he and Shig were doing—and the Germans, too—was brutal, disgusting,” and he would “spend his life trying to remove all this ugliness from his head and his hands.” Throughout, Hughes never shies from the institutionalized bigotry that put these Americans of Japanese ancestry into harm’s way more than their fair share of times. Nuanced and riveting in equal parts.”
Booklist (Starred): “Hughes’ writing effectively evokes the horrors of war and the internal conflict of young men fighting for a country that has treated them unjustly. The challenges of Yuki’s reentry into the States are also well conveyed: the guilt of survival, the difficulty of communicating the war experience to civilians, and the continued widespread racism…. This is historical fiction at its finest—immersive and inspirational.”
SLJ: “A solid purchase for collections looking to entice reluctant readers and those where historical fiction or war novels are popular.”
Andrew Hunt. Desolation Flats. Minotaur, Nov. 15. Historical mystery. Art Overson #3. A series of mysteries sent in 1930s Salt Lake City.
PW (Starred): “Set in 1938, Hunt’s outstanding third mystery featuring Mormon policeman Art Oveson combines a moving portrayal of a man attempting to deal with his wife’s depression with a clever whodunit story line. Art, who’s been transferred to the Salt Lake City PD’s two-man Missing Persons Bureau, is on hand when British racing-car driver Clive Underhill almost perishes in a crash. Art risks his own life to rescue Clive, who has traveled to the U.S. to try to set the world’s land-speed record on the Salt Flats. Clive’s major competition is a German racer, whose triumph would be a propaganda victory for the Nazis. The detective gets further involved with Clive after a member of Clive’s party disappears and another is murdered. The identity of the prime murder suspect complicates Art’s inquiry, as do his struggles with his wife’s mental illness and its effect on their three children. The richness of the characters, including secondary ones, and the imaginative plot make this the best yet in the series.”
Kirkus: “Once the murder is connected to the Nazis, everyone becomes a potential suspect—except, of course, Hunt’s improbably virtuous hero, whom readers are likely to either love or loathe”
Elana Johnson. Rift. AEJ Creative Works, Oct. 17. YA science fiction. A twin falls through a rift in time, created mistakenly by time travelers from the future.
Carla Kelly. For This We Are Soldiers: Tales of the Frontier Army. Sweetwater/Cedar Fort, Oct. 1. A collection of six stories from the American frontier. Several had been published before.
Carla Kelly, Josi Kilpack, Jennifer Moore. A Country Christmas. Mirror Press, Oct. 3. Three regency romance novellas.
Robin M. King. Memory of Monet. Walnut Springs, Oct. Thriller. Remembrandt #3.
“Alexandra Stewart thought she was born to be a spy. Her eidetic memory, the adrenaline rush, and the calling to help people was in her blood. But after her latest mission in Paris and her confrontation with a terrorist, Alex begins to question her role working for The Company, a secret spy organization that exists in the basement of Brown University. When the CIA asks for her assistance on a mission only she has the ability to complete, Alex agrees to travel to Mexico City as an exchange student at an elite art school, leaving behind her comatose brother and her handler who has risked everything to keep her safe and would do anything to be with her.”
Mindy Holt, 4 stars. “I have really enjoyed this series. The author does a great job of wrapping up the series and its characters, all while giving the reader a great adventure. At times I thought I had it figured out, but Robin does a great job of planting seeds and tricking the reader into thinking they know what was going on. Then delivering a great climax that is heart-pounding. This time with Alex’s eidetic memory flashes, though, I felt some were out of place. The story would just get going, then she would have a memory for a page or two. It was a great way to keep me reading, as I wanted to know what would happen in a particular scene, but at times, they felt misplaced. The Mexico setting was very enjoyable and I loved Alex’s journey into painting, like her mom. Many fun surprises throughout and the ending was wonderful! The spy work is fun, intense and very entertaining.”
Paula Kresmer. To Suit a Suitor. Sweetwater/Cedar Fort, Nov. 8. Regency romance.
Bookworm Lisa (4 stars): “To Suit a Suitor is a sweet regency romance. The characters have been hurt before and are unsure about relationships. They take each other by surprise and do not know how to react. There are meddling mother’s who want their children to be marries. One mother has selfish ulterior motives. I always enjoy regency books set in the country away from London. This book had that and more. This book is clean with kissing. The characters had depth. I loved reading about their learning to trust their heart process. There are moments that had me giggling and moments when I wanted to throw something at the main characters. This book is entertaining and a light read. It is perfect when you need a regency fix.”
Aimee, Getting Your Read On (4 stars): “I really enjoyed this gentle regency. It was romantic and the characters were vivid and very typical to this regency genre. The overbearing, pushy and slightly snooty mother, a rich young bachelor sought after by every young girl around, a young woman caught up in the society games and wishing for an escape. It all played out like a lovely movie in my head. I wouldn’t say there were any surprises waiting for me in this book but I did like the overall theme of being yourself and allowing others to come to know and love you for who you really are.”
Linsey Leavitt. Commander-in-Cheese. #3: Have a Mice Flight!. Random House, Oct. Early reader, ages 7-10.
Angie Lofthouse. The Glory of the Stars. Self, Nov. 15. Mormon science fiction. “Four hundred years ago, the First Families boarded the Kingdom of Heaven to leave behind a wicked Earth and find a new home where they could build Zion—on a planet they named Canaan, a place the ship wouldn’t reach for a thousand years. Only their descendants would see this new world. But after so many years, conditions on the Kingdom of Heaven are much different from what those First Families had planned. When Nephi Packard of telestial deck runs afoul of President Black and his High Council, he learns the hard way why leftovers like him don’t mingle with the celestials. While recovering from his harsh punishment for violating the rules with Black’s own granddaughter, an archangel appears to Nephi, and a calling to restore the true gospel to the Kingdom of Heaven turns Nephi’s life upside down. Now, armed with the word of God, Nephi and his friends from telestial deck must bring light, truth, and freedom to the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven without getting cast out of the ship into outer darkness for heresy by President Black and his celestials.”
Gerald N. Lund. The Shadow Falls. Deseret Book, Nov. 7. LDS historical. Fire and Steel #3. The Eckhardt family in Germany deals with the aftermath of WWI. The young, charismatic Adolf Hitler is a character.
Reading for Sanity (5 stars): “I approached this book with trepidation, for, while the second book was slightly more accelerated and interesting than the first, it felt extremely formulaic. And then came Book Three. To be fair, there is definitely a Lund Formula to these books. Jokingly, while talking about how much this third installment had captivated me with friends, they asked about the first two and I summed it up thusly, “World War I, people find the church, happy, sad, gospel. And Hitler is there.” Simplistic, but the general gist is there. Not a lot happened — it felt like the first two books in the series were really just the most extensive volumes of backstory ever. The characters behave so similarly to Lund’s famed Work and the Glory series that I think that’s why I didn’t connect with them in the first two. I’d already known and loved that storyline, I wanted something new and wasn’t finding it. The formula is still playing out here, but Lund has found his voice . . . Before we know it, Adolf Hitler is a welcome and frequent guest in our main characters’ home and a major influence in their lives. Remember that scene from Friends when the boys are betting the girls over who knows them better, and in a frenzy, the boys raise the bet to switching apartments? And Monica shouts “It JUST. Got. INTERESTING!!”? That. Gerald N. Lund is an astounding researcher. It’s one of his greatest strengths in any series. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his talent and his ability of bringing his research to life better than this book. For the first time in this series, I was gripped. I needed to know how he’d marry history and his fictional families—and while I knew the history he was talking about, I couldn’t believe how real it became . . . Lund has captured the national unrest and insecurity that allowed such madness to happen in the most chilling and clear manner. I’ve heard clips of Hitler’s speeches, enough that as I read Lund’s story, I could hear his voice. I know the German people, and the Austrian people, and I love them dearly. This book rang so true to me in presenting the Germans as wonderful, wonderful, loving people who were terrified of losing everything. They were humiliated beyond compare after the Great War, feeling like their very essence had been stripped away. They were lost, they were scared, they were starving, and they just wanted to make it better. At the core of it, Lund has encapsulated that the general feeling among the Germans was one of correction – the desire to improve their quality of life instead of losing their lives through starvation and humiliation . . . Overall, I’m astounded by this book. I don’t want to wait for another year or so for the next one to come out, however chilling it’s going to get. In my review of the first book in this series, I implied that Lund’s ability had slipped with age. He’s back, and this book is better than ever.”
Kristen McKendry. The Governess. Covenant, Oct. 10. Regency romance. “Independent young Kate Porter envisions a future far greater than the middle-class existence she’s always lived, and her work as a governess is simply a means to an end. The glittering world of a society wife calls, and her new position as a private tutor for the children of Mr. Alonzo Colaco is a step in the right direction. The job turns out to be not what she expected.
Mindy Holt, 5 stars. “The Governess is an enjoyable book with very likable characters and a great story. I enjoyed the Canadian setting too. Kate experiences a great growth in the story, that I appreciated . . .Alonzo was a fabulous leading man. I loved every page he was on. His children were also scene stealers. I loved the lessons learned throughout the book. The author did a fabulous job with her characters.”
Stephenie Meyer. The Chemist. Little, Brown, Nov. 8. Romantic thriller.
PW: “In this uneven adult romantic thriller from YA bestseller Meyer, a woman “currently calling herself Chris Taylor,” a former operative for a secret U.S. government agency that killed her mentor, must take extraordinary steps to stay alive. The compelling opening chapters document the extreme precautions Chris employs to avoid leaving traces of her presence, as well as the sophisticated self-defense mechanisms she has devised. When Chris receives an email from Carston, a former agency colleague, she replies that she’ll meet him one week later where they first met, which turns to be an outdoor cafe in Washington, D.C. At their rendezvous, Carston persuades Chris to use her skills as a no-holds-barred inquisitor to prevent a crippling bioterrorism attack on the country. The first step is for Chris to locate Daniel Beach, who has been working with a Mexican drug lord to distribute a super-charged influenza virus. Once Chris finds Daniel, the plot plays out along predictable lines that don’t do justice to the intriguing setup. Underdrawn characterizations don’t help.”
Kirkus: “A professional torturer on the run from her employers falls in with sexy twin brothers . . . In her latest, Meyers marries the genres of spy versus spy and throbbing romance novel with good results . . . A tale of skulduggery, bodice rippery, and shoot-’em-up action unfolds, complete with help from a luscious mistress of disguise who could have stepped right out of a James Bond novel. Rated B for badass.”
LA Times: “It’s basically a gender-flipped Robert Ludlum novel . . . Meyer’s sympathy for femininity, and for passivity, is part of what many critics hate about the “Twilight” books. But it gives her an unusual ability to turn genres inside out. American pop culture tends to celebrate agency and empowerment, not gentleness and getting rescued. When spies and superheroes say they want to retire to a quiet life, it seems unlikely — who would want to be an average schmo when he can keep having all these cool manly adventures? In “The Chemist,” adventures aren’t exactly manly, and domesticity — home-cooked meals, sleeping beside the one you love sans gas mask — comes across as genuinely appealing. The characters in the novel are motivated by love of family rather than by duty to country or abstractions like saving the world. Love gives the adventure meaning, rather than just being a subplot off to the side. Spy fans can be assured that in most respects, “The Chemist” functions in much the same way as a Bourne or Bond story, complete with mounting body count, cool explosions, stakeouts and betrayals. But changing the proportion of gender in the genre gives the concoction a renewed, and welcome, rush.”
Washington Post: “It is a romance novel cleverly nesting inside a thriller. And what a strange romance it is . . . Other matters further challenge credulity. The melodramatic plot depends upon well-worn devices such as a pair of twins whose bodies mirror each other. The writing and bantering dialogue never fully escape a cataclysm of cliches. But one does not read Meyer for her style. Her appeal is emotional rather than aesthetic, and she knows how to control dramatic tension as skillfully as any of the Bourne movies. The pages turn themselves. And Alex is one stone-cold heroine. “The Chemist” asks that age-old question: Can sadists find true love and happiness? Or, to put it from the teacher’s perspective: Can love — or, at least, infatuation — conquer the deepest pains inflicted by the beloved? The sexual power struggle just below the surface of Meyer’s novels may well be the key to her broad appeal. In the “Twilight” books, the balance was clearly tilted in the vampire’s favor. In “The Chemist,” the roles reverse, and Alex literally calls the shots. Who says the author’s not a feminist?”
H. B. (Heather) Moore. Exodus. Covenant, Aug. 1. Old Testament historical fiction. The Moses Chronicles #3. Last in the trilogy. Moses vs. Pharaoh.
Jennie Hansen, Meridian Magazine, 4 stars. “One of the most satisfying series based on scriptural characters in the past few years . . . . Moore’s characters are well fleshed out and fit the story. Growth is shown in the way Moses and Aaron go from nervous, but determined to face Ramses, to men of powerful faith who trust God in all things. Other characters also grow as their faith grows. The author shows tremendous ability to paint a realistic picture of the plagues, of the parting of the Red Sea, and even the vast desert land the characters must pass through to return to the land promised the Israelites more than four hundred years earlier.”
Mindy Holt, 5 stars. “What I appreciated most was the point of view changes. I felt it really helped the story progress and I was able to get to know each character even better. Heather has an amazing talent in bringing her characters to life. Each character was expertly written with care and detail. Even though there was a lot of going back and forth (of course that was Ramses’ doing:), Heather was able to add excitement and suspense to the story . . . I can tell there was a great amount of research involved and Heather pulled it off perfectly.”
Aprilynne Pike. Glitter. Random House, Oct. 25. YA Speculative/Science Fiction. First in a series.
PW (Starred): “The series opener dazzles and enchants, blending Baroque-era sensibilities with futuristic realities. Danica Grayson, 17, lives in the 22nd-century country of Sonoman-Versailles, which consists of the French palace at Versailles. Now owned by a multinational conglomerate, the palace and its grounds act as the company’s headquarters and the last bastion of courtly life. It’s a place of contradictions, where robots handle mundane tasks, overseen by a frighteningly efficient AI, and the residents adopt the dress and social structure of a bygone age. Blackmailed into an engagement with the 19-year-old king, Danica is desperate to escape. The only way she can flee the king’s wrath and her mother’s tyranny is to become someone else, which requires money, so she turns to selling a powerful drug that’s infecting the streets of Paris. Mixed into cosmetics, it becomes wildly popular, but Danica’s downfall is as swift as it is gripping. Beautifully detailed scenes serve as the foundation for Danica’s ethical quandaries and illuminate the fantastical world in which she lives.”
Kirkus: “Pike creates an intriguing and imaginative world that mixes the future and the past, with enough suspense to keep pages turning and enough forbidden romance and florid descriptions to satisfy genre conventions. Poufy gowns and corsets in a futuristic setting make for an interesting spin on a perennially popular genre.”
SLJ: “This is a stunning, unique, and fast-paced read. While illicit drug use and sexual violence make this book better suited to mature readers, fans of dystopian tales will find it breathes new life into their favorite genre. Give this one to readers who enjoyed Kiera Cass’s “The Selection” series or Ally Condie’s Matched, or anyone looking for a fresh dystopian novel”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: “Rich with absorbing detail, clever plotting, and complex characters, this blends the fascinations of live role-playing games with court intrigue, mean girl dynamics, and contemporary crime drama.”
Janette Rallison. How I Met Your Brother. Rally Point Press, Nov. 1. Contemporary romance. Power of the Matchmaker #11.
Mindy Holt, 5 stars. “As always Janette does an amazing job with her characters . . . I thought the plot was executed perfectly. While reading, things would happen and I would think how great Janette moved the story along effortlessly, all while keeping me interested and wanting to see what happens to these great characters. I read this book very quickly and was eagerly anticipating how it would end . . . The romantic sparks between Flynn and Belle were perfect and written well, and their kisses were… WOW!”
Jacob Proffit, 4 stars. “I’ll admit to some dismay to find that this is part of the annoying Matchmaker nonsense. I’m not sure why I’ve grown an aversion to the semi-series, but since it’s multiple authors and “Pearl” is such a transparent device I suppose it just seems gimmicky and awkward to me. To Rallison’s credit, Pearl only shows up at the beginning and end, and doesn’t do much more than let Belle know where her former crush is and that he’s available. Naturally, Belle goes after him or there wouldn’t be a story. Even better, she finds Flynn instead . . . The story is a light, easy read with no real surprises along the way. Flynn’s family is kind of awesome (maybe a little too much so) and watching Belle find a home was delightful, even as you felt all her uncertainty of this being her actual future.”
Larry Richardson and Tom Richardson. The Big Horn. Putnam & Smith Publishing Company, Aug. 6. Western historical fiction. Set in the wake of General Custer’s tragic massacre at the Little Big Horn, The Big Horn tells the story of a celebrated steamboat captain who rescued the tragic survivors of the 7th Cavalry, forcing him to bury a fated gold shipment along the banks of the Little Big Horn to make room for the wounded. Thirty years later, while trying to solve a murder, a Montana lawman stumbles upon a clue that might not only solve the crime, but possibly lead to the whereabouts of the lost gold, a discovery that puts him on a collision course with those determined to stop him.
Gary McCary, AML. “As a buried treasure tale, “The Big Horn” is a great read. There is just enough plausibility to the telling that one is left to wonder if this really happened. If you love western history, then “The Big Horn” will satisfy.”
Brandon Sanderson. Arcanum Unbounded. Tor, Nov. 22. Cosmere universe short stories, 8 were previously published. “Cosmere” is the name for the expanded universe which contains most of Sanderson’s novels, including the Mistborn and Stormlight books. One Stormlight Archive novella “Edgedancer,” appears for the first time.
PW: “Sanderson’s first short fiction collection gives readers nine behind-the-scenes glimpses at the intricate cosmogony that ties together his various blockbuster fantasy series . . . Original to the collection, “Edgedancer” chronicles the madcap adventures of Lift, a user of “awesomeness,” who will be more important in upcoming Stormlight novels. Other pieces focus on non-series worlds: for example, in “Sixth of the Dusk,” competing uses of magical ecology fuse into a determination to save a planet from the dangerous “gifts” of advanced aliens. This collection is required reading for Sanderson fans, offering plenty for new readers who are undeterred by learning too much.”
Kirkus: “A sprawling collection of mini-epic fantasies from genre stalwart Sanderson . . . When these stories are good, they’re very good, with all the quick wit, richly detailed settings, and memorable characters fans have come to expect from this prolific writer. But some of the stories in the collection are more like deleted scenes from other stories than like stand-alone tales, and others focus too much on worldbuilding and not enough on Sanderson’s real gifts for creating character, emotion, and suspense. There are some standout stories here, but overall, it’s more of a treat for superfans than a way for casual readers to dip into Sanderson’s work.”
Crissy Sharp. Love and Fat-free Cheese. Sweetwater/Cedar Fort, Nov. 8. Romantic suspense. Suspense around a pharmaceutical company and a dirty drug. First novel.
Jacob Proffitt. 3 stars. “This book is a mess and doesn’t hold together very well, but the author is talented enough that it’s not obvious unless you think about it a bit. If you’re just along for the ride and accept everything at face value then you’ll probably be okay. Which is kind of strange to do in a book that talks so much about not taking things at face value . I originally went through making a case for all the things that had problems: the plot, the main bad guy, the secondary bad guy, awkward two-year time jumps for exposition, even the main characters have some convenient lapses and inconsistencies. But that would make this a really tedious review so I’ll just say that if you’re looking for something that will withstand scrutiny, this isn’t for you. If you’re content with the emotion of the moment, then Sharp has the talent to keep the pace brisk and the questions muted enough for you to enjoy the spectacle.”
Elaine Vickers. Like Magic. HarperCollins, Oct. 18. Middle grade. Three 10-year old girls overcome fear and loneliness with the help of a mysterious treasure box. A debut novel from Ally Condie’s younger sister.
Kirkus (Starred): “Alternating chapters reveal each girl’s personal struggles and the pivotal role of art—painting, music, poetry—in her growth and healing. Their stories are told in intimate detail, illuminating all that’s beautiful and tough about being 10. Based on the cover art and details from the narrative, Grace is white, Jada is black, and Malia is brown. Their differences are woven into the fabric of this touching, engrossing story about dealing with change and working through fears. The Salt Lake City, Utah, setting is fresh, the city’s landmarks and landscape adding another layer of richness to the novel. An endlessly endearing story of three girls’ pursuit of friendship and the beauty and challenge of what it means to be 10.”
PW: “This wholesome, sensitive story follows three girls of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds during the summer before fifth grade, as they confront significant life changes . . . All three girls’ stories are relatable, as debut author Vickers addresses real fears confronting girls this age and explores their encounters from multiple perspectives. Themes of sharing, trust, and family never overshadow the story’s heart: a natural longing for friendship and the unfettered joy of finding it.”
SLJ: “The point of view changes with each chapter, providing insights into the girls’ private aspirations and relationships with family members. Readers will be engaged by the near misses in which Malia, Grace, and Jada encounter one another but hesitate to introduce themselves, leading to an emotionally satisfying first meeting at the novel’s climax. Just right for sensitive tweens, this is a sweet story of friendship and learning to cope with common fears and life changes.”
Rosalyn Eves. 5 stars. “This really is a magical story of three girls, each feeling lost in her own way: shy, poetic Grace who misses her best friend who has just moved; artistic Jada who is new to Salt Lake City and feels she doesn’t fit in; and musical Malia whose family is so caught up in the imminent arrival of her baby sister that they don’t seem to see her. Vickers does a wonderful job pulling the threads of three different lives together in moving and unexpected ways. A lovely meditation on friendship and the strengths we don’t know we have.”
Jaclyn Weist. Love in Return. Trifecta Books, Nov. 3. Contemporary romance. Silver Screen #6.
Dan Wells. Extreme Makeover. Tor, Nov. 15. Satirical speculative suspense. About a health and beauty company that accidentally develops a hand lotion that can overwrite your DNA.
PW: “Wells spares no aspect of American society’s darkest corners or obsessions in this enjoyable satire, and those who fear heavy-handedness will be glad that it reads more like a humorous thriller than a diatribe . . . The best and worst of humanity—sometimes embodied in the same person—are at the forefront of the sometimes breathless, often twisting story of a world spiraling out of control because too many people couldn’t be happy with who they were. Reminiscent of Vonnegut at his most subtly biting, Wells’s novel should find favor with speculative and mainstream readers alike.”
LJ: “The pursuit of youth and beauty takes a dark turn in this satirical novel from Wells. The science is of the hand-waving variety that doesn’t bear close scrutiny, but it is an entertaining send-up of corporate greed and societal shallowness.”
E.B. Wheeler and Jeffery Bateman. No Peace With the Dawn. Cedar Fort/Bonneville, Nov. 8. WWI/LDS historical romance. “In 1917, the Great War seems far from Logan, Utah. But soon it will change the lives of suffragette and mechanic Clara, Swiss-German immigrant and LDS convert Trudi, Marine Corps volunteer Reed, and Shoshone seeking U.S. citizenship Joseph.”
Deseret News: “Part of the beauty of this book is how the authors detail life in early 20th-century Logan.”
Bookworm Lisa (3 stars): “There are a lot of characters in the group of friends. Sometimes I had a hard time trying to remember who each of them were and where they fit into the story. The author’s tell the story to the reader. I had a hard time picturing the events and wanted a little more description. It took me a while to figure it out . . . If you enjoy war stories and history, this may be a right fit for you. The book has war violence and some kissing. Yes, this book has some romance!”
Katie W, Goodreads. (4.5 stars). “I loved seeing what their college experience was like, what they did for fun, and the way life was in Logan, Utah a century ago. With that threat of war looming, things change and the resulting experiences each character had was very enlightening, entertaining, and heartbreaking . . . I love how the view changes from Europe to back home, so the reader gets a sense of what is happening in both places. This story is crafted in a way that really draws a reader in and doesn’t let go until the book is completed. This is a great read for anyone wanting to experience history in a great way.”
Carol Lynch Williams. Messenger. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman, Oct. 18. YA paranormal. “Evie Messenger knows that her family is different from other families. But it isn’t until her fifteenth birthday that the Messenger gift is revealed to her. Evie has the family’s gift—a special power. Soon she realizes she is able to see and talk to the dead—ghosts—often with no idea who the person was.”
PW: “An engaging, supernatural-tinged novel . . . Relatable characters and a down-to-earth narrative carry Williams’s story to a pat yet emotionally gratifying conclusion. The plot is slight, but clever twists and efficient worldbuilding keep the pace swift, and Williams makes smart use of her premise to encapsulate what it’s like to straddle the line between childhood and adolescence.”
SLJ: “There are no great surprises or twists, the romance between Evie and Buddy is tame, and the ending will likely be expected by readers, but none of that mars this sweet offering. A gentle tale with lots of heart that should find an audience with all but the most cynical readers.”
Kirkus: “Williams creates a recognizable world with Evie and her working-class, white family, whose colloquial speech (“Now lookit”) provides extra dimension. Even though her Gift may be supernatural, Evie herself comes across as a well-rounded, likable character. Another solid outing from Williams.”
Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books: “Aside from a few fleeting references to the Floridian setting and a cell phone, there’s really no sense of place or time here, making Evie’s folksy voice more kitschy than authentic, especially when the dialect drops in and out of her narration. Her relationship with Buddy, though, is sweetly old-fashioned (holding hands seems like a declaration of love), and the revelation of his connection to the dead girl is touching, albeit predictable. Though Kiernan’s Into the Grey is a more sophisticated ghost story that better utilizes its setting, this might make an accessible introduction to the “I see dead people” subgenre.”
Thank you for the kind review! I’m glad Mindy liked The Governess. All the best, Kristen McKendry