Book Reviews – Jan 2024

Well, I’d planned on getting this up right at the beginning of February… But I’ll skip all those life-happens-better-late-than-never anecdotes. Let’s get right to it!

When Hope Springs New (Canadian West series #4) by Janette Oke- Elizabeth and Wynn have taken over a new posting. One that is even more remote than Beaver Creek was. The women in this settlement are afraid to have anything to do with Elizabeth, making her days long and lonely. But when disaster strikes, will the Delaney’s be able to help the people of their new home? 

~I’ve read this series since I was a teenager, so was surprised by how little I remembered of this story! I enjoyed it, but didn’t connect as much with it as I did the previous three. I liked the side characters, and seeing how Elizabeth faced the…challenges – and contrasting that with how she’d have handled them in the first book. (always love character development). I was surprised by the ending, and how rather abrupt it was. It felt rushed to me? Turns out though, that there are two more books in the series, though they are focused not on Elizabeth and Wynn specifically. I’ve never read them. But, it was fun to read this series again these past four months.

Harp of Kings (Warrior Bands #1) by Juliet Marillier- Liobhan is an eighteen year old singer and expert whistle player while her brother, Brocc has incredible talent on the harp. But Liobhan’s dream is to become a Swan Island warrior. When she and her brother get the chance to train for spots on the elite warrior band, she puts all her heart and soul into it. Then they are chosen for a covert mission while still in training- something never heard of. Their mission is to find and retrieve a special harp before the crowning of the new king. Faced with druids, courtiers, a storyteller and ill-mannered Prince, their task is difficult indeed.

DNF (did not finish) –I found this on hoopla as an audiobook. I was eager to get into it as it had everything I just love in fantasy novels – an elite warrior community; based in, basically, Ireland; fae creatures; strong sibling relationships; and a mystery with a deadline. Those parts were all fantastic. Marillier does fantastic writing fae creatures, they are so alive and other-worldly. I liked all three main characters, Liobhan, Brocc and Dau -and as the story progressed, I liked Dau more and more. Now for the negatives in my opinion- there is a scene where a man is trying to force himself on a woman. I cannot handle these scenes- and while I can admit that she did keep it limited to what could’ve been written, it was still too much for me. I fast-forwarded and was able to enjoy the story again. I probably got over halfway through the novel (hard to tell in an audiobook sometimes), and romance of a personal nature was written about with enough detail that I turned the book off. I’m very disappointed because when Marillier keeps her stories clean, they inevitably end up as some of my favorites. (Wildwood Dancing for example). I’d love to know who stole the harp, and who of the trainees end up getting to stay on Swan Island. But, after a search online, I couldn’t find out these things. Can’t recommend this series, sadly, because, apparently, one must have sex in a fantasy for it to be complete. Argh.

Hunted by Megan Spooner- Yeva is secretly relieved when she moves back to her father’s hunting cabin at the edge of the woods with her father and sisters. She knows and loves the Beast’s forest. But when her father disappears, she is deaf to her sister’s pleas and sets off to hunt the creature that he’d been tracking. Yeva ends up in a world different from her own- one of enchanted castles, a cursed valley and creatures that were only in fairy tales.

Yep, I had to read it again. I needed a cozy fantasy one evening, so instead of reading the other books I was already in… Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed this all over again. I love reading about archery and of course, retellings can be so delightful. One thing I realized about this Beauty and the Beast retelling that is different for Beauty herself- she isn’t ‘plain’ or ugly. She is pretty, as pretty as her sisters even, but it’s not something she thinks about/focuses on. She is just not concerned with outward appearances, so it doesn’t come up. Of course, there’s so much else that stands out about this retelling from others that I’ve read, but that was my latest revelation. I wish Spooner would write more retellings!

Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes by Cassie Liversidge – You’re shown how to grow your own plants no matter how much space you have and how to harvest and make your own teas and tisanes

~This was such a cool resource. There was so much information in this, I’d love to have my own copy one day. It was nicely laid out with plenty of pictures of the plants.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie – Jack Argyle was found guilty of having bludgeoned his mother to death and sentenced to life imprisonment. But Dr. Arthur Calgary, eager to do the right thing, comes forward with proof of Jack’s innocence. But it’s too late, Jack died in prison. What’s worse though, is that Calgary’s proof opens up the family’s wounds and makes them all face the fact that the murderer is still free…

~ I picked this up when I needed something to be able to carry in my purse – one reason I love the little mass market size paperbacks. It was a unique plot, that I could not decide just what and who done it! Even when it was revealed, I had to flip back some pages and read it again because I was so surprised! The ending felt a little rushed, too on-the-nose in a way, that took away a little bit of the enjoyment.

Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers- It wasn’t unusual for a man to be naked in a bathtub, but the rest of the circumstances were. The man was dead, for one. And he was wearing a pair of pince-nez and his face had been shaved after death. Lord Peter Wimsey doesn’t agree with the police that it is a popular financier and sets out to prove his theory

~It was fun to listen to the first installment in Lord Peter’s investigations. Bunter – Lord Peter’s valet- was already a favorite but is even more so, after this story. These are partly so fun, I think, because Lord Peter and Bunter aren’t professional, or associated with the police. So they can blunder and do sometimes outrageous things to get at the truth, where others couldn’t. Of course, it’s also fun to have it happening during the 1920s, and among the British aristocracy. The only thing that I disliked about this one, really, was the stated attitude about certain races -and classes. But as I understand, that that was the case in that time period, it at least fit the novel and didn’t feel like it was something the author shoved in just to make a point. Also, that attitude hasn’t been present in the other novels of the series. All in all, I’m thoroughly enjoying the series and plan on reading more throughout the year.

Clouds of Witness (Lord Peter Wimsey #2) by Dorothy L. Sayers – When Peter’s brother-in-law-to-be turns up dead at the Wimsey retreat and the accused murderer is Peter’s brother, it’s enough to shake the unflappable Lord Peter. And that’s not to mention the other aspects of the case that are truly puzzling…

~I absolutely enjoyed this story! Sayers is excellent at weaving together different parts of a story and drawing them together to a clever conclusion. I’ve always enjoyed who-dun-its and am so glad to add this author to my list!
Absolutely adore Lord Peter, he reminds me a little bit of Percy Blakeney (if you don’t know that reference, go read Scarlett Pimpernel!).

Unnatural Death (Lord Peter Wimsey #3) by Dorothy L. Sayers- The fact that Agatha Dawson had died wasn’t surprising to anyone, but Lord Peter was curious about how she died rather sooner than expected and dives into this case, even though he doesn’t have any leads or clues. When Agatha’s maid ends up dead as well, Peter knows his time is short to catch the killer.

~This one was intriguing partly just because of how Peter comes across this story of Agatha Dawson and how he decides to crack it, even though there’s nothing to go on. His friend, Parker, doesn’t believe him that it is even a case. (parker is great, by the way!). This one was fun to listen to, as they all have been. Sadly though, there were race issues and some…hints about a few people’s preferences. The first was sad and clumsily done – knowing it was written in that time period I muttered against it and moved on. The second was very subtle – indeed, if I’d read this five or more years ago, I don’t think I’d have picked up on it. Because of those two things, this isn’t my favorite of the series.

~Thank goodness for audiobooks these past months, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to read much! What with creating my own crochet patterns, sitting and reading a book just isn’t possible. But. Listening to one while I work on the patterns – absolutely! Hoopla has been saving the day in that regard.

Currently Reading:

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly

What have you been reading?