Book Review: Connection at Newcombe by Kayt Burgess

By Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: dementia

Kayt Burgess’ latest novel Connection at Newcombe is a delightful historical fiction tale that is bound to make the reader smile. World War I has ended and soldiers from around the world are making their way home. Cal Bannatyne and Jean Guy Vachon are on their way back to Newcombe, a small community north of Sault Ste. Marie where they cannot wait to be reunited with family after serving overseas. Cal ends up befriending the man in charge of the Canadian National Railway and learns that there’s a possibility that Newcombe can get a station if they have at least two hundred residents, which they do not. But Cal lies, and says they do. Cal is determined to make his white lie true as he enlists the town of Newcombe to come together with the neighbouring reserve and find a way to bring the railroad to Newcombe. 

Burgess has created some very likeable and quirky characters. Connection at Newcombe takes a look at various character perspectives in the two weeks leading up to the census bureau sending someone to count Newcombe’s population. While looking at these other characters, Burgess also weaves in the story of how Cal is going to somehow come up with the additional people needed to make Newcombe a two-hundred-person town. The story is lighthearted with some occasional flashbacks to Cal’s time in the war, but overall it’s quite enjoyable. Is it believable? Not really. Is it historically accurate? Well... no (Thunder Bay is named at one point however it wasn’t officially named Thunder Bay until 1970, decades after World War I). But it is a quick read with fun characters that are bound to keep the reader entertained.

Even though Connection at Newcombe can feel like it’s being rushed, especially during the last quarter when things are wrapping up, it is still a unique and fun story. Burgess’ prose is lovely and the story flows very smoothly. Cal and Jean Guy are pretty happy-go-lucky for two men who have just served in a gruesome war, so their characters are not overly believable. The reader may even forget that the story was taking place just after the war had ended unless a flashback was brought up. All in all, Connection at Newcombe is a fun read if you’re looking for something lighthearted to escape with for an afternoon.

Thank you Latitude 46 Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

By Megan Amato

Content warning: talk about rape, explicit violence, colourism, sexism,  

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna was my most anticipated book of the year, and it didn’t disappoint—it caused stomach curling, hands gripping the edge of my seat, shut-the-book-and-run-to-another-room level anxiety—but it didn’t disappoint. 

The story is a first-person young adult narrative following 16-year-old Deka, the only dark-skinned girl in her puritanical and patriarchal town. When her blood runs gold—instead of the desired crimson—on the day of her Ritual of Purity, her village turns against her, and Deka learns she is immortal—the hard, painful and should-have-been-permanent way. After her world—and body—are completely torn apart, a mysterious woman proposes to glue it all back together by offering a position as a soldier in an elite army of alaki—“almost immortal” girls who fight to help the Emperor defeat the monstrous deathshrieks. Deka soon learns that there is more to her heritage than she knows, and her blood may just be the key needed to defeat her enemies—known and unknown. 

Deka is by far one of the most likeable characters I’ve read in YA fantasy. She’s equal measures kind and determined, desperate to find someone who accepts her—demon and all, quick to take a leadership role but unafraid to lean on someone when she needs to.  From the very beginning, you root for her; even when the blurb on the back of the book warns you of what is to come, you are always crossing your fingers that she will be okay and overcome whatever hurdle the world Forna has created throws at her. Watching her grow into her position and confidence, make mistakes and thwart others’ plans for her is an absolute delight.

I am a sucker for a magical school or supernatural training ground of any kind, so this book might as well have been on my shelf since conception. Some might find complaint in the common trope of a chosen one being found in an unwanted girl in some remote village, trained to fight evil and exceptionally good at it. However, those criticisms would be shallow, as Forna has crafted a world unlike any other. The book is full of worldbuilding, creatures that delight the imagination, and a plot that moves and shakes both the characters and the reader to our very cores. Even if this West African-inspired fantasy didn’t have this strong foundation of originality, the story would still be novel as there aren’t the same amount of fantasy stories written by and featuring a Black woman. 

The one aspect of the novel I am of two minds about is the romance between the protagonist and a soldier named Keita. On the one hand, I think he is a tad underdeveloped, and more could have been written about his experience training and falling in love with Deka. However, I love that the emphasis isn’t placed on the romance. It’s there to show that Deka is worthy of the romantic love she seeks, but as Deka says herself, the centre of the world is her friendship with fellow alaki, Britta. While readers of fantasy romance may be disappointed by this, the power of a friendship between women is the shining gem in this novel. It’s what you turn the page for—along with the marvellously comprehensive plot that deepens on every page.

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve read The Gilded Ones, but it’s all I can think about as I go about the chores of my daily life or dive into new worlds. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new immersive read!

*Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: Truth Be Told by Kathleen Barber

By Kaylie Seed

Kathleen Barber’s debut fiction novel Truth Be Told (formerly published under the title Are You Sleeping) follows a true crime podcast called Reconsidered, created by investigative reporter Poppy Parnell. The podcast questions the previously solved murder of Chuck Buhrman, and has implications for the Buhrman family. Josie Buhrman has finally moved on from her father’s death and has removed herself from her destructive twin sister Lanie and her mother, who has run off to join a cult. Josie is forced to visit her estranged family when her mother suddenly passes away, and she must come to terms with what happened on the night of her father's murder.

This thriller (which is more of a mystery than a thriller) feels shaky, with an unreliable main character and the overall predictability of the story. Truth Be Told is a story that the reader will want to keep reading, but they may find themselves disappointed in the end because it's predictable and slightly boring.  However, if you're looking for a quick read you don't have to think about, check this one out.

Barber’s writing at times has too much redundancy and there are parts in the plot that don’t quite add up. For example, the relationship between Josie and her boyfriend is not realistic, and the relationship between Josie and her twin Lanie seems too fake. Truth Be Told focuses on relationships between family members and shows just how dysfunctional a family can be. The story also sheds light on grief and how we can all experience it differently—even twins—which is probably the most interesting part of this story. I wanted to love this one and even though I didn't, that doesn't mean you won't!

Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: alcoholism

Cassandra Clare’s Chain of Gold is the first book in The Last Hours trilogy and also belongs to The Shadowhunter Chronicles, making Chain of Gold a book that is part of a larger fictional universe. Clare has managed to write this story in such a way that newcomers to the series will be promptly filled in on all the important elements in The Shadowhunter Chronicles, and at the same time it also reads like a recap for those who are long-time readers of this universe; signs that Clare is a true master of her craft. A young adult fantasy novel, Chain of Gold is set in London during the summer of 1903, with an occasional flashback, and the story focuses on residents of the London Institute: a place where Shadowhunters meet frequently, while also being part of mundane (human) society. In this particular book, a ragtag team of teenagers are on a mission to find out why demons are attacking in daylight and at the same time are learning to grow up in this Shadowhunter world.

Clare’s characters are all incredibly interesting and while there are many of them, she has managed to make them each distinct enough that the reader won’t be confused as to who’s who. Cordelia, James, Lucie, Matthew, Christopher, and Thomas are the main characters throughout Chain of Gold and there is a slew of secondary characters as well, who are just as intriguing as the main characters. Clare has incorporated themes such as bravery, coming-of-age, strong female characters, love, queer characters, and friendship, while also making this a fun fantasy read that readers won't want to put down. Clare also nods to the Victorian and Edwardian eras by taking words from poems that the characters in Chain of Gold would have been familiar with and naming each chapter with them, while including an excerpt of that poem. Clare’s attention to detail is one of the reasons why Chain of Gold is a fabulous read.

Chain of Gold is heavily detailed but not in a way that is overwhelming for the readers, who can immerse themselves into the story without feeling like they aren’t going to know where Clare is taking them next. This 500+ page novel may seem daunting to some readers but even though Clare has given a lot of in-depth details to Chain of Gold, she has managed to do so with little redundancy. Chain of Gold has the perfect amount of action, humour, drama, and romance to keep the reader entertained throughout the story. I cannot wait to see what Clare has in store for the next book of The Last Hours trilogy, Chain of Iron.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Bruised by Tanya Boteju

by Megan Amato

Content warning: Death, self-harm

Tanya Boteju’s second contemporary LGBTQIA+ YA novel Bruised has all kinds of emotion erupting from me, but mostly joy emerges that teenagers and young adults will be able to read this story and connect with the anger, grief, self-discovery and acceptance within the pages of this book.

Bruised follows Daya Wijesinghe, a second-generation Canadian Sri Lankan teenager who copes—or perhaps avoids coping—with the grief and guilt of her parents’ death by substituting her emotional pain with the physical—by bruising. After skateboarding fails to keep the memories at bay, she is introduced to roller derby and is immediately enthralled by the contact sport. Afraid of weakness in any form and used to handling things in her own way, Daya collects more bruises—both internally and externally—as she learns to work with a team, manages her turbulent emotions and discovers that strength comes from more than just brute physicality. 

Having read Boteju’s debut Kings, Queens & In-Betweens, I knew that I was in not only for a lesson in roller derby culture but also an exploration of themes through the protagonist’s many stumbles. Daya’s inclination is to push away love, kindness or anything emotional, as weakness is the main point of tension driving the plot. It shows especially in her inability to accept her aunt and uncle’s eccentricity in a misplaced sense of loyalty to her father, who saw them as frivolous. Memories of her father display him pushing her to reject weakness at any cost, and the reader’s inclination may be to yell at him for his tough love, but through it, Boteju hints at the systematic racism that many immigrants of colour face when moving to Canada. After experiencing this, Daya’s father pushes her into creating a barrier of brute strength to protect herself from the world.

Breaking through that barrier would be tough for anyone, but Boteju has created enthralling characters with depths that manage to break through Daya’s wall of self-preservation—from the love interest, Shanti, whose soft and sweet demeanour continues to surprise Daya into seeing that real strength comes from within, to the amazingly spry and spunky geriatric lesbians who begin to break down Daya’s perceptions of what strength looks like. 

Books like Bruised are one reason I disagree with people when they say we don’t need any more queer coming-out stories. While I agree that there is an oversaturation of a type of coming-out story, Boteju shows that everyone’s coming out is not the same. Daya’s coming out is subtle rather than a big revelation, and she receives both love and acceptance. It’s a part of her story, but only as a component of the self-acceptance she gains for herself as she allows herself to love and be loved. 

It’s a well-crafted book, one that flows well even as Daya stumbles and makes it hard for the people around her to care about her. The only piece of criticism I have is more of an unanswered question: Daya lies about her age to get into the Killa Honeys, but it’s never brought up again. Besides this small issue, I think the novel belongs on bookshelves in all libraries so that young people on the verge of self-discovery may stumble upon it and possibly recognize themselves as any one of the relatable characters Boteju has created.

*Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: Red Island House by Andrea Lee

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: racism

Andrea Lee’s latest novel Red Island House is a piece of literary fiction that reads more like a collection of short stories, with protagonist Shay being the central character throughout each one. Shay is an African American woman who has married Senna, an Italian businessman, and the two of them own a vacation home (the “Red House”) on the island of Madagascar—a stunning backdrop for these stories. Throughout each of the vignettes, Lee paints pictures of various things that have happened in, around, or to the Red House while keeping Shay at the forefront of each tale. Lee touches on themes such as culture, language, racism, classism, identity, and marriage, and how all of these ebb and flow together throughout life. 

Lee’s prose is not for all readers as it’s incredibly intricate and at times almost scholarly. This ends up making it a potentially inaccessible read. The descriptions throughout Red Island House are breathtaking and are meant to be read slowly and savoured. This is a book that readers may have trouble getting into because it moves at a remarkably slow pace, yet time jumps drastically between years. Readers shouldn’t go into this one expecting there to be a continuous story, because there isn’t one, and that may be part of the reason why it’s a complicated read. If this one was marketed more as being a collection of short stories, then readers may find it more enjoyable. Readers who enjoy molasses-rich prose and want to take their time with a book will find joy in Red Island House.

*Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: Sure, I'll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe

by Christine McFaul

Content Warning: abuse, Black trauma, body shaming, bullying, death, depression, disordered eating, divorce, loss of a loved one, police brutality, racism, reference to child abuse, violence. 

Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend: Notes from the Other Side of the Fist Bump by Ben Philippe is a bitingly humorous memoir-in-essays chronicling a lifetime of “being the Black friend in predominantly white spaces.” This was a book I requested to review, knowing nothing more about it than the pitch. But the topic was extremely timely and the conversational approach felt unique, plus, as the book opens:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a good white person of liberal learnings must be in want of a Black friend…”

With that impeccable opening sentence, I was hooked. In choosing to modify Jane Austen’s infamous first line from Pride and Prejudice, Philippe expertly sets the tone for the coming narrative. Dripping with irony and striking a devilish balance between what is literally being said and the sneaking suspicion that the author is having a laugh at the reader’s expense, the line is a perfect proxy for the tongue-in-cheek camaraderie to come. 

As your new BBFF, Philippe is ready to share the blunt truths of existing as a Black man in today’s world—experience not to be confused with expertise, “There is no expertise here; that is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s lane.” He unpacks stereotypes, slurs, and microaggressions. He makes sure his new friend is up to speed on the whole “swimming thing” and on how to identify a “Privilege of Karens” (the plural form of a singular Karen, of course). Where his experience might lack, he provides excellent book recommendations. Just make sure to return them when you are done, because, as Philippe so relatable writes, “Like, I miss my books, man.”

These topics are layered into a series of coming-of-age essays that follow Philippe throughout his childhood as a Haitian immigrant in Canada to his college years in the American Ivy league during the Obama era and into adulthood living and working in New York during the Trump administration. All told with just the right amount of caustic humour and millennial pop culture references to keep the pages flipping at a rapid rate. 

As Philippe was finishing his memoir, the summer of 2020 happened, and Black people were dying by police hands across America—Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and far too many others. Which is nothing new, Philippe notes, but now the world is watching. He finds his “snark and witty banter have metastasized into a weird new anger.” His writing is correspondingly raw but remains unwavering in its honesty. Instead of providing answers, this time, he leaves his new friend with a powerfully rhetorical question: “Why do I have to tell you that my life matters?”

The book wraps up with a beautiful series of micro-summaries reiterating the complexity and nuance of what it means to “Thrive in a Black Body At Any Age." Refusing to be anything but himself, Philippe cuts to the heart of what was suggested in that glorious first sentence, “In the grand scheme of things, I much prefer if you dislike me for being Ben than if you like me for being Black.”

Vulnerable, open, layered, always wickedly humorous and full of quote-able quotes (seriously, my copy is a sea of highlighter), this book feels modern and very much in the moment of a life still being lived. I would challenge readers to increase their self-awareness because, “Yes, white privilege is absolutely a thing, and yes, you absolutely do have it. That’s a non-starter;” accept Philippe’s generous offer of friendship. Though I would add that for this book to shine its brightest, it begs for a reader with a working knowledge of millennial pop culture and who can appreciate a well-placed curse word or two.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Fabulous Zed Watson! by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester

By Christine McFaul

At the start of this year, the Cloud Lake team asked each reviewer what books we were most excited to read in 2021. The Fabulous Zed Watson was in my top three, so I entered the reading experience with high expectations … and this book delivered! The authors set the “Zed charm-o-meter to 11” and produced pure joy in book form. 

The Fabulous Zed Watson is a middle-grade triumph co-authored by child-parent team Basil and Kevin Sylvester. Amongst the many things that make this work so special, the novel features fantastic sketch-y illustrations by Kevin and an #OwnVoices perspective provided by Basil.

Zed Watson is an irresistibly charming non-binary tween who loves their chosen name, brightly patterned sweaters, their big, exuberant family, and monsters! They are part of a small online community dedicated to solving the mystery surrounding an epic Gothic novel called The Monster’s Castle. The first four chapters of the book are a cult classic amongst monster connoisseurs like Zed, but the rest of the manuscript was buried by its enigmatic author before it could be published. When an unexpected IRL meeting with fellow site member Gabe leads to a breakthrough discovery, the two set off on a rollicking literary scavenger hunt.

At its heart, this is a friendship story. And what better foundation to explore the complexity of human dynamics than stuck in an old clunker with A/C on the fritz and buried treasure on the line? Zed and Gabe soon find out that despite their shared passion for Gothic novels, they are actually very different from one another. Zed is a self-proclaimed “flamboyant and well-regarded drama kwing,” while Gabe is more of a “human Eeyore.” They end up bickering over car snacks, taste in tunes, and most importantly, the meaning behind the cryptic clues they are following. The story provides a humorous, poignant, and very realistic portrayal of what it takes to collaborate as Zed and Gabe navigate their differences, leverage their strengths, and eventually become great friends.

This exploration of human connection continues as the two forge bonds with a myriad of unforgettable people met along their route. These new characters are expertly woven into the fabric of the story and embedded in the reader’s heart. The narrative itself becomes a beautiful celebration of found community, whether it derives from online fan-groups, real-life encounters, library visits (my personal favourite), secret diners, or even, not to leave the reader out, within the pages of a great book.

Perhaps most special is the Sylvesters’ portrayal of the non-binary tween experience. No one is more confident in who they are than Zed! Never teased or tormented, Zed is simply free to be!

My coming out wasn’t what he found funny. In fact, Frank often said it was only the third most interesting thing I’d done that night.

Sure, there are moments that get Zed down, like when people misgender them or when they are required to share sensitive legal information (containing their assigned gender and deadname) with grumpy border guards. But Zed has a myriad of relatable tween ways to cope and move on. Never losing an ounce of their “Zedly charm,” their spirit remains indomitable and their puns on-point.

In an interview with Debbie Redpath Ohi (find it on her website inkygirl.com), Basil Sylvester spoke about the incredible power of books to “open your mind and heart.” Gorgeous! And by that definition, this book is powerful indeed. Buoyant, laugh-out-loud funny, and impossible not to love, I urge you to pick-up The Fabulous Zed Watson for your tweens (or yourself!) and prepare to disappear into the happiest of spring/summer reading!

As always, I encourage interested readers to check out #OwnVoices reviews (Goodreads and Bookstagram are great places to start!) to expand on the thoughts I have shared here. 

Thank you to HarperCollins for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: abuse, sexual abuse, loss of a child, graphic scenes

Sadeqa Johnson’s Yellow Wife is a challenging yet beautifully written piece of historical fiction. Inspired by true events of the 1850s, Yellow Wife follows Pheby Delores Brown, who was born on a plantation in Charles City, Virginia, and who ends up in an unlikely situation granting her a sliver of freedom. Pheby was born to her Black mother and a white man, and in turn is given the title “yellow,” which ends up giving her a slight advantage in this brutal way of life. Pheby had the opportunity to read, write, and learn piano during a time when it was illegal for any Black person to be educated, making Pheby the witty, smart young woman she is throughout Yellow Wife. Pheby is an extremely likeable character that the reader will be rooting for even after the story is finished.

Johnson is not afraid to show the reader the brutality that Black slaves endured and while it can be incredibly difficult to read, it is very important to be aware of this history and to remind readers that white privilege is by no means new. Johnson includes topics such as power, racism, misogyny, the mother-daughter relationship, and the power of love. Yellow Wife is incredibly powerful and is intended not only to entertain but also to make the reader think.

Johnson has done her research for Yellow Wife, and I highly encourage the reader to take the time to read the Author’s Note at the of the novel. Here Johnson describes where the inspiration for her characters and plot came from. In addition to the research that Johnson has put into Yellow Wife, her story is solid with no redundancy or plot holes. The prose in Yellow Wife flows smoothly and Johnson even paid attention to the various accents that would have been heard in the 1850s, which are shown through dialogue. Yellow Wife is an exquisite novel that will make the reader fall in love and break their heart at the same time.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Speak, Silence by Kim Echlin

By Kim McCullough

Content Warning: Sexual violence, suicide, war

Speak, Silence by Kim Echlin follows Gota Dobson, a Toronto-based single mother and travel writer for an airline magazine. Gota has watched the Yugoslav wars on TV for years when an opportunity arises to attend a film festival in Sarajevo. Gota knows she has to go, at the very least, to see Kosmos, a man she’d met in Paris eleven years earlier. After that brief but life-changing affair, he left her. Now, he runs a theatre company in Sarajevo, and Gota is willing to risk the visit, even though the fighting is still going on outside the city. 

Once in Sarajevo, Kosmos introduces Gota to Edina, a lawyer who has shouldered the burden of compiling stories of the women who were sent to rape camps and brutalized during the war. A court has been set up at the Hague to try war criminals and bring justice to the women who suffered at their hands. Edina, who was also held captive, will join the survivors in testifying against the main perpetrator. Though the women, who include Edina’s daughter and mother, can never recover all they’ve lost, they hope a trial will be a step toward healing.

As the trial approaches, Gota’s friendship with Edina deepens. Gota is determined to support Edina and the women by attending court each day. Kosmos and the other male characters—Gota’s editor, a taxi driver, a guard at the courthouse—slip into supporting roles. They show kindness and decency—normalcy that provides a stark contrast to the men who raped and murdered their way through the war. 

Echlin keeps the narrative focused firmly on the women, drawing parallels between Edina and Gota and their respective mothers and daughters. Edina and her family can’t ever go home again, while Gota’s lives in peace and safety in Canada. Gota’s daughter is concerned with her future, while Edina’s just wants to forget her past. 

During breaks in the trial, Gota returns home to Toronto. These brief respites from the difficult testimony in the Netherlands are rich with detail and freighted with a dreamlike sense of unreality. Echlin carefully draws out a sense of disconnection in Gota; she misses her daughter, but her attention is always on Edina and the women. 

Speak, Silence is well-researched and beautifully crafted. The narrative slips through time, sometimes moving quickly through events and sometimes in slow and deliberate detail. Echlin’s prose is both succinct and eloquent, and her dialogue shines, sometimes more in what isn’t said than what is on the page. 

Speak, Silence is a crushing call to bear witness to the brutal crimes committed against women in the Yugoslav wars. And yet, beauty is found in the incredible strength and friendship that defines Gota and Edina’s bond, as well as the bravery and allyship of the women who stood before the court to tell their terrible truths. 

*Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: Noises of the Night by Alana Pidwerbeski

By Christine McFaul

Noises of the Night by author and illustrator Alana Pidwerbeski is a sweet lullaby set against striking images of the Canadian landscape.

This picture book begins with a child settling into bed for the night. In the quiet moments before sleep arrives, she listens to the sounds of night outside her window and contemplates how these noises might differ across the vast country.  

Outside the wind blows

Through the leaves in the trees

My eyes are drooping

My mind drifting with ease

The words roll along simple and soothing, creating a song-like rhythm with a repetitive reminder that “the noises of night, differ near, differ far,” and “sing you lullabies wherever you are.” Rather than tell a story, the narrative is anecdotal, making brief stops from East Coast to West Coast and all the many places in between to spotlight noises typical of the region. Readers hear waves crashing, the call of loons, and wolves howling. They also hear the cooing of pigeons, the flight of planes, and the rumble of cars. Inclusive of both wilderness and urban settings, there is something for every child to recognize, no matter where they might call home. The words sweep across the country with a calming, sleepy ease, gentling nocturnal sounds and activity as they go.

But the real highlight of this picture book are the illustrations. There are twenty-one pictures in total with a bold and modernist feel that calls to mind the artwork of the Group of Seven. And similar to the work of these iconic artists, Pidwerbeski’s illustrations feel synonymous with the Canadian landscape and animals they depict. From a lone lighthouse standing strong on rocky shores to northern lights dancing over an Inuksuk with other breadcrumbs to discover along the way (a hockey stick on the bedroom floor, a silhouette of the CN Tower in the background, a flock of Canada geese overhead), these gorgeous illustrations are sure to please Canadian readers young and old. The palette is a mixture of beautiful and unexpected twilight colours. Deep plums and blues are set against warm yellow lights and the pinks and oranges of a fading summer sunset. The tones gradually darken with each image until, at the end of the book, the sun has set, and the reader is transported into a starry, summer night. 

A calming lullaby complimented with beautiful pictures, Noises of the Night is a relaxing bedtime story that will appeal to Canadian readers and beyond. I believe it would best suit readers on the younger end of the picture book age range (with 2-4 being the ideal audience).

*Thank you to author Alana Pidwerbeski for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: blood/gore, depression, drug use, off-page suicide, racism, violence 

(*Note, an extensive content warning is provided with an author’s note at the beginning of the book, please read before starting the book.)  

A Dark and Hollow Star by debut Canadian author Ashley Shuttleworth follows Nausicaa, an exiled ex-Fury bent on causing chaos on Earth to punish her immortal family; Arlo, an iron-born Fae princess rejected by her family for her weak magic and half-human heritage; Aurelian, a royal Fae guard desperate to keep his problematic charge alive and safe from his queen mother’s manipulations; and Vehan, aforementioned problematic charge, whose life of princely privilege hides growing threats to his life. This unlikely group is drawn together by fate (and luck) when iron-born Fae begin to turn up dead, and nobody but them seems to care. A dark conspiracy is at hand, one the immortal gods seem to have a vested interest in, and these four seem to be right at its centre. 

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it’s partially set in Toronto and is full of references to Canadian gems like the ROM, Ripley’s Aquarium, Indigo, and Timbits! While some of these landmarks are a bit over-explained for non-Canadian readers, it was super exciting for me as a reader to see references to places I know and love. This book is an urban fantasy, with the world of the Fae woven into our human environment, and Toronto landmarks were a fun way to make the setting feel contemporary. It made the fantastical elements feel even more exciting because they were immersed in a world I recognized. 

While the Canadian references are super fun, and the book’s dialogue is very quippy and sarcastic, this is not a light read. I have provided a content warning at the beginning of this review for some of the more prevalent subjects this book discusses, and Ashley Shuttleworth provides a far more thorough explanation of some of the more serious topics the book touches on. Each of the characters struggles with their mental health and traumas they repress and need to work through. I feel Shuttleworth handles these topics respectfully, and I applaud them for prioritizing the health of their readers. 

Where this book really shines is the vividness of each of the characters. Every member of the main four, as well as several of the side characters, are distinct and memorable. Their interactions feel genuine, and it’s easy to get invested in their individual stories and to want them to succeed. 

Where this book falls a little short was in the mythologies and climax. While much of the Fae government system is easy to follow, and for the most part, the worldbuilding was clear and easily understood, as the book goes on and more elements get introduced, it can become hard to follow, and the merging of several different types of mythology can, at times, trip up the reader. However, this did not take away from my reading experience. The climax, contrarily, did. I won’t go into too much detail, but there was a lack of tension for me, and the characters made some decisions that were very illogical in a frustrating way, which made me feel dissatisfied with the resolution to this particular story. 

That being said, this book gave me a brutal book hangover: for three days, I searched the internet for fan art and bonus content for these characters, and, since I read the book before it was officially released, I came up short, which was infuriating! Shuttleworth did such a good job of building an immersive world in a city I recognize, and in crafting characters whose lives and romances I am deeply invested in. While this particular conclusion was a little lacklustre, I am incredibly excited to read the next book in this series, as I feel like this was just a tease of the epic story Shuttleworth has planned for us.

If you are a fan of darker YA, urban fantasy, queer romances, dark faeries, and badass and loveable characters, definitely consider picking up this book. If you’re from Canada, doubly so! 

Book Review: Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

by Dahl Botterill

History and monsters share the opening prologue of Cherie Dimaline's novel Empire of Wild. The history is one of displacement and community, while the monsters are both fantastic and all too real. 

Arcand is a small community made up of Métis families. Their ancestors were forcibly moved from Drummond Island to Georgian Bay in the early 1800s, only to be displaced again when their shorelines drew the eyes of developers. Cottages and vacation homes eventually pushed most of the Métis from the water up a dirt road into what would become Arcand. The roads and land thereabouts are home not only to the Metis and the local wildlife but also to the Rogarou, the werewolf and warning that remains long after so much else had been taken, hunting those that would betray or steal or hurt.

After this brief lesson, the book introduces Joan Beausoliel. Joan is grief-stricken and desperate in her eleventh month of searching for her missing husband. Victor was the love of her life, the person who fit her like nobody else could, but he disappeared after a disagreement over selling her family land to a developer. When no sign of him was found, the town and community gave up on looking for him, but Joan hasn't. Her life has become consumed by her search for Victor and by her attempts to fill the very empty space when she isn't searching. Joan is a mess when she stumbles into a revival tent in the local Walmart parking lot and finds herself face to face with a barely recognizable Victor that doesn't know her at all.

So begins the story of Joan's desperate efforts to save a man that doesn't know her from a threat that nobody can see, and it grows into a more interesting tale than I expected at first glance. I picked up Empire of Wild because I enjoyed The Marrow Thieves, but the brief synopsis left me expecting something a little more pedestrian, something that played it a little safer. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover otherwise.

Cherie Dimaline weaves history, culture, and werewolves into a thrilling novel of love, loss, and neocolonialism. The past and present are bound together by both the family members surrounding Joan and the dangers surrounding Arcand. All these interrelationships are described using words and sentences appropriate to the story. The writing sometimes flows extensively; other times, it's sparse, but it always fits the tale being told. Dimaline doesn't waste space with the unnecessary, and Empire of Wild is all the more beautiful a book for her discernment.

Book Review: Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

By Christine McFaul

Assault /violence, dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, cheating, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, public outing.

Stay Gold is a coming-of-age teen love story by debut and #ownvoices transgender author Tobly McSmith. Everything from the premise to the gorgeous cover art (which combines a graphic feel and citrusy palette to swoon-worthy result) felt modern, fresh, and fun, making it a highly anticipated read for me!

Sick of the attention he got at his old school after coming out as transgender, Pony is going stealth at his new Texas high school. Georgia is beginning to think there is more to life than the trope-y trappings of being a cheerleader and wants to lay low until graduation, a plan that includes a self-imposed dating moratorium. But when Pony and Georgia lock eyes on the first day of the semester, sparks fly, and best-laid plans quickly go by the wayside in the face of undeniable chemistry. 

“Stay Cool. Stay Strong. Stay You.”

What a cover! What a tagline! What a pitch! … Unfortunately, the writing got off to a rocky start. 

The reader enters the narrative on a movie set, with Pony describing his first day at Hillcrest as if it is being filmed. Rather than a catchy hook, this device feels confusing as it bounces the reader back and forth between a first-person narrator and a first-person narrator referring to himself in the third person. It creates a distancing effect, prolonging that special moment when the reader connects with the main character. From there, it continues to flounder with several information dumps that feel stiff, educational, and completely at odds with Pony’s otherwise endearing teenage voice. Luckily the dialogue, by turns snappy, sizzling, humorous, and vulnerable, proves to be a saving grace. The flow of conversation is natural and engaging, providing the perfect vehicle to carry readers through a bumpy opening and propel them into the narrative.

Once the writing finds its groove, it is easy to enjoy the story. Beginning with that first simmering look between Pony and Georgia, McSmith offers up some fun, if slightly predictable, rom-com moments (New Guy competes with Football Star to get the Girl, splashy first kiss, and an actual Love Actually riff). The romantic storyline is entertaining, but for me, the love really shines in the subplots. Here the reader finds thoughtful contemplations of what it means to love yourself, family, and found family. I was powerless to resist the unshakeable sibling bond between Pony and Rocky. Simply and perfectly summed up in this text message: 

ROCKY: When your heart breaks, my heart breaks. 

And don’t even get me started on the perfection that was the freeing, inclusive, and very teenage conversations around the intersection of love and sex.

“What’s sex to you?” I ask.

“A mutual exchange of bodily fluids?”

“Yes. Gross, but yes. And—connection. Mentally, spiritually, but mostly physically.”

As Pony comes of age over the course of the story, he faces rights of passage that are light, relatable, and poignant. But, as mentioned in my content warning, there are also some that weigh more heavily. Even the central message of the book to “stay gold” has a darker side as being true to yourself is equated with the act of being publicly out, even when that comes at the expense of one’s physical and mental safety. The immense pressure Pony faces to be open, as well as some of the darker motifs, have sparked discussion in the greater reviewing community, and I highly encourage you to take a look at some of the excellent #OwnVoices reviews available for this book (plenty to be found on Goodreads and Bookstagram as a starting point).  

While Stay Gold is certainly not perfect, McSmith has created a main character who is impossible not to love and a story that is, ultimately, hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who reads the YA genre, enjoys a twisting-turning journey to a happy ending, and is informed of the potential for triggering material. 

*Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: The Plague Cycle by Charles Kenny

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: graphically depicts symptoms of infectious diseases 

Nonfiction, especially when backed with science, can be difficult to review, so it is not the content that this review will focus on but rather how it was delivered. As long as there have been humans roaming earth there has been disease. The two seem to go hand in hand and have been at war with each other since the beginning of our existence. Charles Kenny began writing The Plague Cycle years before the novel coronavirus plagued humanity, but its release in January of 2021 was nothing but timely. The time and effort that Kenny put into researching The Plague Cycle is evident all throughout the novel and it’s clear that Kenny was passionate about this topic.

Kenny has written a very accessible piece of nonfiction about the history of plagues. The Plague Cycle not only gets to the point, but manages to weave humour into its writing, which acts as comic relief that balances the scientific and historic jargon dominating most of the novel. Readers who enjoy history and science will find great joy reading The Plague Cycle, and at the same time readers who may be new to the nonfiction scene will find this an easy one to begin with. It’s crucial to learn from our collective history and The Plague Cycle shows the reader that we have been, to an extent. There will always be a newer, deadlier infectious disease that will threaten to end humanity, and it’s up to us to ensure that we are ready to take it on.

*Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Truth About Magic by Atticus

by Jodene Wylie

In September of 2019, long before the world shut down from a pandemic, a sunset-covered book of poetry was released into the world, inspiring thoughts of love, magic, and adventure. Atticus, the usually masked poet and Instagram sensation, released The Truth About Magic as his third book of poetry following 2017’s Love Her Wild and 2018’s The Dark Between Stars. 

As much as this is a book of poetry, it is also a book of photography and art. It is a visual experience, alongside a play of words and lyricism. The poems are interspersed and interwoven with images of the beach, nature in all its forms, fireworks, starlight, travel destinations like Paris, and most important to the book—human connection and experience. While the cover suggests a glorious sunset, the images inside are all in greyscale, as though one is reading the book through the night.

The Truth About Magic is broken into seven sections: Magic in Youth, Magic in Love, Magic in Adventure, Magic in Her, Magic in Darkness, Magic in Words, and Magic in Stars. These section titles infer the tone and topic of the poems found within, though the poems themselves seem to have a bit of a life of their own. Structurally, there is no consistent rhyme or metre between the poems – they each stand alone. At times the poems are arranged into the popular free verse style while others are a single line, or two or three. The font type changes as does the use of italics, bold, and capitalization, which each lend themselves to supporting the overall sentiment behind the text. The diversity amongst poem structure ensures that the reader does not fall into a lull reading the same metered stanza over and over again on repeat for 247 pages. It should also be noted that the poems do not have titles, therefore if you ever wanted to describe or share the poem you must in fact read or begin reading the poem, which forces the new reader to interact and engage with the words themselves. 

As for the poems, the overarching theme tends to be love, while the tone and topic may change. I will also say that love is a broad term—not just between partners, but also for the self, as well as love towards hopes and dreams. The poems also explore people, their personalities, the actions they take, and the impact those actions have upon the poet. My favourite poems though are about Paris and what the poet describes as a “slow murmur of a Paris thought.” Perhaps because I am reading this during the latest lockdown I seem to connect most with thoughts on walking the Seine at sundown. 

This is a lovely escapist read. It is visually appealing and the sentiments and ideas are strongly linked to the human condition. While the poems are not academically refined they are a genuine pleasure and frankly, we could all use a little more of that. 

Book Review: How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

By Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: domestic violence, death of a child, death of an animal, rape, incest

Gut-wrenching and raw, Cherie Jones’ debut novel How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House (How the One-Armed Sister) unapologetically explores patriarchal violence and its effect on generations. In Barbados, Lala is estranged from her grandmother, her only family, and lives a life in poverty with Adan, her abusive husband. How the One-Armed Sister looks at Lala’s life, as well as her mother’s and grandmother’s, and shows the reader how intergenerational trauma and patriarchal violence are interconnected cycles that are difficult to break. 

While How the One-Armed Sister is a stunning piece of literary fiction with brilliant prose, there is an entire character that feels redundant to the overall story. Mira is married to a wealthy man and together with his children, they spend time vacationing in Barbados. There are slight connections to Lala and the main plot, however the amount of time spent with Mira gives the impression that she is another main character, one that might even mirror Lala, but this isn’t the case. Mira’s character arc is unsatisfying and leaves the reader to ponder whether there was a need for the heavy focus on her throughout How the One-Armed Sister. The entire book is filled with heartache; this is not a happily ever after story. 

A novel meant to break the reader's heart, Jones succeeds—there is barely any glimmer of hope in this dark and gloomy book. The reader gets pummeled with depressing and graphic scenes with no respite.  This might feel like too much at times, but it’s clear that the point was to make the reader uncomfortable and feel these dark emotions. With heavy themes such as sexual abuse of a child, rape, graphic domestic violence, the death of a child, and even the death of a pet, the negative extremely outweighed the positive to the point where it became unbalanced and might not be enjoyable.  

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House sheds light on the domestic violence that women in poverty are susceptible to, and how that leads to intergenerational trauma. Jones is a talented writer with fantastic works in her future.

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Undertaking of Billy Buffone by David Guiliano

by Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: sexual abuse of children, graphic scenes, death of a child

Set in Northwestern Ontario, David Giuliano’s novel The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a tale about how one person’s heinous actions can impact lives for many years to come through trauma and grief. Told from the ghostly perspective of Matthew, Billy’s childhood best friend who died as a youth, the reader will learn about the dark secrets that have engulfed the small town of Twenty-Six Mile House for decades.  Billy Buffone is an eccentric, middle-aged funeral home director in Northwestern Ontario. Billy has never been away from home for long, and he is deathly aware of the secrets that want to remain buried in this sleepy town.

I am from Northwestern Ontario myself, so it was really neat to see this location used and used well. Giuliano is also from the area and it is clear to the reader that he did his research and did Northwestern Ontario proud. Giuliano has created some unique characters that bring a much-needed lightness to this macabre novel, and they are a joy to read. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone also pays homage to Anishinaabe (who reside in Northwestern Ontario) culture and traditions respectfully and with warmth, another beacon of light in this sad story. 

The Undertaking of Billy Buffone touches on some heavy topics that the reader should be made aware of before diving in, mainly the sexual abuse of children, which can get graphic. Giuliano has managed to write about these difficult topics gracefully while maintaining the bluntness of them. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone also touches on trauma, grief, friendship, and love. While there can be difficult-to-read scenes, Giuliano has written a touching story about the brotherly love between friends and how that love is unconditional. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a beautifully written piece of literary fiction that will bring the reader heartache and warmth.

*Thank you, Latitude 46 Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Follow Me To Ground by Sue Rainsford

by Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: gore

Sue Rainsford’s magical realism debut is unlike anything that you will read this year. Follow Me to Ground is delightfully disturbing, unique, and, well—it is weird in the best way possible. Ada and her father are otherworldly beings living among “Cures” (humans), and they have the gift to cure sickness in humans. While Ada and her father appear to be human, likely to ease the humans they cure, they are far from it; they are beings that have come from the “Ground.” As the story progresses, Ada struggles with continuing with life as it has always been, and with falling in love with Samson, a human.

Rainsford has chosen to not use quotation marks in Follow Me to Ground to indicate when a character is speaking, and even though there aren’t quotation marks, the reader can still differentiate between character voices and hear the uniqueness in each of them. Rainsford has included topics in Follow Me to Ground such as forbidden love, the father-daughter relationship, and coming-of-age. The three of these themes blend as Ada struggles between acting on her calling and what she truly desires.

Rainsford’s prose is simply stunning and captivating; she even manages to take scenes with creepy elements and makes them sound beautiful. Follow Me to Ground is short, to the point, and can easily be read in one sitting. There are some parts of the plot that can make the reader uneasy, however, the reader will want to know what is going to happen next. Rainsford is talented and can conjure up a story that hasn’t been told yet. It will be interesting to see what she comes up with next and because of that, she is an author I’ll be keeping an eye on.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Found Drowned by Laurie Glenn Norris

by Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: sexual assault, animal abuse, child abuse

Laurie Glenn Norris has crafted a chilling debut novel based on a true unsolved crime from 1877 in Atlantic Canada. Created entirely from Glenn Norris’s imagination along with snippets of articles and stories surrounding Mary Harney’s disappearance, Found Drowned is an excellent piece of Canadian historical fiction. Seventeen-year-old Mary Harney is a dreamer and has a vivid imagination, traits that shouldn’t be associated with a young lady almost old enough to be wed. Mary’s home life is far from perfect, with an alcoholic father and a grandmother who doesn’t think highly of her, so it’s no wonder that Mary finds solace in her own thoughts. One evening during a domestic altercation between her parents, Mary goes missing from her home in Rockley, Nova Scotia. Some time later an unknown woman washes ashore in Bell’s Point, Prince Edward Island, and these two small towns become entwined as they try to solve this mystery.

Glenn Norris goes between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to paint a picture of what would have happened in 1877 when a suspected murder had been committed. It is clear to the reader that Glenn Norris has put a tremendous amount of time into researching the story of Mary Harney, the judicial and forensic procedures in the late 19th century, and also the areas in which Found Drowned takes place. Glenn Norris certainly has a way with words, and she manages to capture the reader’s attention very early on. The prose throughout Found Drowned is fantastic, and Glenn Norris has paid attention to detail when it comes to the era she has written about. While Found Drowned is a dark and melancholy novel, Glenn Norris wrote it in such a way that it allows the voice of a young woman, who had hers taken way too soon, be heard.

Thank you to Nimbus Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.