Book Review: The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: violence, slight gore, threats of being burned alive, references to past child abuse

The League of Gentlewomen Witches is the second book in India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series. This fantastical historical rom-com follows Charlotte Pettifer, a woman who is definitely not part of the Wicken League, a hypothetical organization of gentlewomen witches who use their powers to rob—er, protect the people of England by separating them from their valuables. Unlike the Wisteria Society, the women of the Wicken League—which, of course, does not exist—are the true descendants of Black Beryl, the first witch, and as such are the ones entitled to her long-lost amulet that holds unimaginable power. So, it only makes sense for Charlotte, the prophesied future leader of the Wicken League (or at least she would be, if witches were real), to do everything in her power to get the amulet for herself. And if the only way to acquire said amulet is to ally with a notorious Irish pirate, what choice does Charlotte have? When the amulet is stolen by the notorious pirate Lady Armitage, disorderly pirate Alex O’Riley and rigid (alleged) witch Charlotte Pettifer must put aside their differences (and their growing attraction), in order to take each other hostage and steal the amulet by any means necessary. 

I have a review for The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, the first book in the Dangerous Damsels series, available on this site, which I welcome you to read. I loved that book and thought it was an excellent satire of Victorian romance while also being the most original, romantic, and hilarious book I had possibly ever read. While I stand by all of that, I have to admit that Wisteria Society no longer holds that position—The League of Gentlewomen Witches has everything I loved about The Wisteria Society and more! Alex O’Riley is the pinnacle of piracy, and Charlotte Pettifer is a marvel. Her character is so rigid, so hard and inflexible, and beneath that exterior has social anxiety and desire for freedom that resonates so powerfully with me. These two together are a pairing after my own heart, one they have stolen with ease. 

The plot is full of twists and turns, flying houses and duels, with new magic and an amazing cast of new characters that go toe to toe with the Wisteria Society (both literally and metaphorically) as the most polite and dangerous ladies in fiction. The similarities and conflicts between the two groups lead to new opportunities for satire. Lady Armitage makes for a mad, thoroughly entertaining villain, and the schemes of both the Wisteria Society and the Wicken League fill this book with enough drama, sword fights, and flying house battles to keep anyone on the edge of their seat. With Holton’s unique writing style, full of asides, irony, and witty language, this book opens up the Dangerous Damsels series to several interesting new directions while being an excellent story all on its own. 

This book is an absolute delight. I smiled from beginning to end, laughed constantly, and fell in love with Charlotte and Alex’s relationship. It has the perfect blend of snarky banter, sexual tension, and tender kindness. The book itself is a fast-paced ride full of banter, betrayal, and women who want nothing more than to fly. If you are a fan of historical romances, Jane Austen, and a really good laugh, this book has something for you. You won’t want to miss it. 

Thank you, Berkley Publishers, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

By Erica Wiggins

Content warning: drowning, shooting, murder, violence

Nine Lives is the most recent novel from author Peter Swanson. He is an American author best know for psychological suspense novels. A fun fact about this author is that it took ten years of writing before he was able to find an agent and get his first novel published. The first book I read from this author was Her Every Fear. It was a story that stuck with me, and I immediately sought out everything from this author. His latest novel did not disappoint.

Nine Lives follows nine strangers who each get a list with names in the mail. These strangers don’t know each other and assume that it is junk mail. That is, until things begin to happen to the strangers on the list. What is the connection—what is being missed? One of the names on the list is FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is working to put together the clues before someone else is crossed off the list. 

This story is fast paced and unputdownable. We start off by being introduced to each of the individuals as they receive the list in the mail. The story jumps around a bit as we move from character to character in short, quick chapters. This creates an almost chaotic feeling that goes perfectly with this story. Jessica, the FBI agent, is immediately suspicious. She attempts to make the connections and locate the other eight people on the list. When one of the people on the list is found drowned and another man is shot running, Jessica kicks into overdrive and so does the story.  

It felt like I stepped on a high-speed train and couldn’t get off. As the chapters flew by, I tried to find the connections myself, piecing together the clues that are given. I began wondering what was going to happen and what the endgame was. Why would someone do this and who is responsible? Then the ending comes. This author is amazing at twists and to say I was surprised is a gross understatement. I thought that I had it figured out but wasn’t quite right and was caught off guard in the best possible way.

Swanson has a way of making you feel the story—the urgency, the fear, the gut-wrenching twists. He writes in a way to keep you on the edge of your seat. This novel gave out an increasingly creepy vibe as I thought about what it would be like to have my name on a list like this. I cannot say enough about this book. As you can guess, I loved this book and if psychological suspense novels with a bit of a creepy vibe are your thing, check out Nine Lives. When you love this story, this author has backlist to check out as well. 

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

Book Review: Elements of the Earth by Ella Moore

By Cassandra Navratil

In today’s society, dystopian and fantasy novels are often popular due to the way they echo current conflicts, global situations (hello, pandemic, looking at you), and general feelings of unrest and distrust in authority or government. Ella Moore’s upcoming YA novel, Elements of the Earth, is a perfect example of a blend of fantasy and dystopia. 

Not your typical teenager, Raya has been living a double life for thirteen years. The Revolution, a violent, cult-like following led by none other than Raya’s estranged father, is poised to take control of the majority of the world’s countries via fear. Raya has spent her formative years dutifully training to physically protect herself, her family, and the other members of Hideaway—a group determined to stop The Revolution—while still attending school and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Through storytelling on Raya’s part, flashbacks, and vivid dreams, we begin to see a deeper underlying story unfold; one that has roots in long-forgotten mystical powers and familial connections. 

Moore’s casual tone in her writing will undoubtedly be appealing to the YA audience, as will the character development we see in her protagonist, Raya. As an adult reader, I did find Moore’s style to be a bit more difficult to follow. The resounding theme recurring throughout Raya’s storyline is that of a young woman’s journey and struggle to find out who she truly is, and what her place is in the world. Outside of any fantasy or dystopian elements, this is the part of the story that I found most endearing and relatable. We all go through those pivotal moments and experiences in our youth and having characters we can relate to and empathize with is the foundation of what makes YA fiction a success. 

I am excited to see if Ella Moore takes this Elements universe she has created and turns it into a series. She is definitely a new Canadian author to take note of and follow as she continues to develop her writing skills and style. 

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

Book Review: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

By Carolina Moriello

Content warning: sexual assault, violence, domestic abuse 

Welcome to number 12, rue des Amants, where everyone is a suspect, and nothing is as it seems.  

When Jess Hadley escapes England looking for a new start, she expects to stay with her half-brother Ben Daniels in his beautiful Paris apartment. Broke, out of a job, and escaping a scary past, Jess is hoping to use her time in Paris to figure out her next move. However, when she arrives, Ben is nowhere to be found. The longer Ben is away, the more alarmed and curious Jess gets. She turns to Ben’s neighbours for help, only to be met with hostility and unfriendliness at every turn. Jess believes the truth about what happened to her brother lies within the walls of the apartment building, and the more she unearths the more determined she is to find him…dead or alive. 

Within the first few chapters of this book the reader is introduced to many characters. As a matter of fact, not only are there many characters, but the majority of them have their own POV in the story. Such is the structure of this book: a constant rotation of characters and POVs. This gives the reader insight into each character, their history with Ben, and perhaps their own motives for wanting him gone. As you progress through the story and learn more about their connections to Ben, everyone becomes a suspect. Even though this book allows the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of each character, there isn’t much overall growth or character development. They remain pretty stagnant throughout, which made it hard to connect to or appreciate any of them. 

The Paris Apartment is a slow burn mystery novel more than it is a thriller. The first two hundred pages don’t reveal much in terms of where Ben could be, or the type of relationship he had with his neighbours. One could easily become frustrated with the lack of information or leads into what could have possibly happened to Ben. However, things pick up once you reach a certain point, and it becomes difficult to put the book down. Overall, Lucy Foley has written an intriguing story with a slew of messy, reticent characters. If you enjoy slow burn mysteries, with twists and turns scattered about, then this book is for you. Just be warned, paying attention to the small details is how you figure out what really happened to Ben Daniels. 

Book Review: This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel

By Larissa Page

This Might Hurt is the second novel from author Stephanie Wrobel. Told from three points of view and a few different timelines, it follows Natalie, whose sister Kit left for the mysterious “self-improvement” program Wisewood six months earlier. Natalie gets a disturbing email and quickly takes some time off work to go to Wisewood herself and find her sister. Meanwhile, we get a glimpse of Kit’s arrival and time at Wisewood, as well as the childhood story of an initially mysterious third character. Things are not as they seem at Wisewood, for any of the characters. Will Nat find her sister, explain herself, and bring her home? Or, are there other, more sinister, forces at play?

This novel is deemed a thriller, which is a genre I often find hit or miss. Unfortunately, this one in particular was a miss for me because I didn’t find it terribly “thrilling.” I certainly wondered what might happen next and there were a few chapter ending cliff-hangers, but ultimately it lacked the creepy atmosphere or chilling or spooky feeling I like to get from thrillers. 

The characters themselves were not terribly relatable. I prefer to relate to the characters I’m reading about, at least a little bit, and in this case I felt like I was given a lot of their inner thoughts and feelings, and I still found they fell flat. By the end I came to find their actions and decisions, and even their personalities, a bit annoying. That said, often readers prefer thrillers to be plot driven versus character driven, so if that is your preference as a reader, this aspect of the story may not impact your reading of this novel.

What I did enjoy about This Might Hurt is that the storyline is original. This is not a plot that has been seen again and again. The childhood background of all characters is a new idea, the cult on the secluded island is a different setting, and the plot developments are not tired and overused. This is what helped to propel me to the end of the book.

In addition, this novel is a quick read, the chapters are short, and it is easy to decide you’ll get just one more chapter in before putting it down. This is the type of book you take with you on vacation or when you take the kids to the park, one you know you can get through quickly even when you have other things on the go.

While This Might Hurt ultimately didn’t work for me, it may work for a reader who needs a quicker read that doesn’t require a lot of focus or brainwork. Sometimes it can be satisfying to know you guessed a plot point and it’s always good to get into a story and setting that is unlike the other thrillers on your shelf.

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

Book Review: Pain Killer by Brantt Myhres

By Carly Smith

Content warning: substance use, child abuse

Pain Killer, by former NHL player Brantt Myhres, guides readers through Myhres’s time before, during, and after his stint in the National Hockey League. Myhres, who played with the NHL in the 1990s and 2000s, recounts stories about his personal and professional lives while simultaneously exposing his audience to goings-on that are not adequately discussed in the hockey world, like substance use and turning a blind eye to inappropriate behaviour. The memoir is separated into four parts and includes a foreword by Michael Landsberg. In Part I, Myhres shares stories about his early childhood and broken home life. He also eases readers into his role as a fighter on the ice. In Part II, he starts to open up about his wild side—partying, strippers, an unhealthy romantic relationship, and alcohol and drug consumption. Part III sheds light on more substance abuse, his release from the NHL, a stretch of time playing overseas, and the events leading up to his most successful stay in rehab. In Part IV, we are introduced to a new Brantt, a man committed to sobriety and self-reflection, a man yearning to become a good father and a good person. A man who, if placed side by side with a version of himself 15 years his junior, we likely would not recognize. The book also includes an index, which is a handy tool to have because the book includes many names and covers an expansive period of time. I found myself referring to the index frequently.  

This book is not written like other memoirs I have read. Myhres doesn’t strive to have perfect grammar, or to be the most eloquent author, and it works for the material he writes about. The book reads like you are sitting across from him at a restaurant shooting the breeze. The writing is informal and the tone fairly nonchalant. I particularly enjoyed his style of storytelling because it helped me empathize with his circumstances, and it also helped me better relate to the troubles he touches on throughout the book. Readers should not expect an overly articulate, perfectly refined tale, but instead an unpretentious, straightforward account of his highs and lows. 

Pain Killer describes itself as “a memoir of big league addiction,” which is ambiguous and clever. Before reading the book, I interpreted this subtitle as being a reference to substance abuse in the NHL. After reading, however, I imagine that Myhres may be insinuating that making it to the NHL, and living the lifestyle associated with it, is addicting. This book is captivating to say the least; it’s a raw, uncensored story that tugged on all my emotions. From belly laughter to tears, from exasperated sighs to hopeful gasps, I experienced a whirlwind of feelings. This book isn’t just for hockey fans. It’s for anyone who has wanted to achieve an unlikely goal, for those who have failed at achieving a lifelong goal, for people who want to leave a life of addiction or already have, or for loved ones of people who have been affected by addiction. The honesty, humility, and lack of sugar-coating make Pain Killer the pager-turner that it is.  

Book Review: Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

By Sara Sadeghi Aval

Content warning: sexual abuse

The intertwining of stories and people has long captivated readers. Thrusting the reader into a new world with each chapter not only creates multiple universes but makes clear the connections across the human experience. In Five Tuesdays in Winter, Lily King pens ten short stories and worlds that deal with love and loss, and the reactions that we have in the face of them all. Five Tuesdays in Winter is King’s fifth major publication, and her book Euphoria has been acknowledged as one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by the New York Times Book Review.  

Although each story is written in either first or third person perspective, the author maintains an intimacy with the reader through her positioning of the characters in their surroundings, and within their lives. King’s ability to adjust her tone from character to character helps the reader believe and imagine clearly. Her use of internal dialogue gives us an inside look that is difficult to conjure when switching universes. The book begins with the teenager Carol, who is sent to take care of a family and finds herself facing her first emotional and sexual struggle, moves on to the bookseller Mitchell who stands a few feet from his love and cannot bring himself to say so, and ends with a single mother and author who is coming to terms with the outcome of her life and relationships. King manages to pull the heartstrings of humans at each stage of their lives. Within a few pages, she outlines each character’s circumstances, their immediate situation, and their catharsis (if one was had).

After finishing the first story “Creature” I found myself flipping through the pages hesitantly, not in fear of what I might read but to savour the lessons I read on each page. While I could not fully relate to the characters older than me or divorced, I continued to end each chapter with highlighted sentences where I had experienced eureka moments. I often admire authors that can make the reader truly believe they are not alone in losing love, in betrayal, in fear, or in perseverance. I was brought back to books like Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, with its similar passion and pain and depth of characters and their toils. Five Tuesdays in Winter is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved. 

Thank you to Grove Press for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Like Me by Hayley Phelan

By Robyn Rossit

Content warning: sexual assault, eating disorder, rape, alcoholism, drug abuse

Nineteen-year-old Mickey dreams of being a famous Instagram model. Her traditional modelling career has not gained much traction, and while she is beautiful and motivated, she has nothing in the bank to show for it. She also has a growing, unhealthy fascination with famous Instagram model Gemma Anton. Gemma has everything that Mickey wishes she had—a rapidly accelerating career, hundreds of thousands of followers, and of course, a famous photographer boyfriend. When Mickey is suddenly thrust into the spotlight after a lucky encounter, she is met with overnight success. As her career takes off, she begins to struggle with separating her true self from the social media persona that she has created.

Like Me is certainly a fascinating dive into the age of social media and influencer culture, and the sad reality that can stem from seeking validation from strangers online and chasing “likes,” and the false sense of friendship that can be felt following your favourite influencer who seemingly shares so much of themselves online. Mickey is so fixated on chasing fame and being just like Gemma that her reality becomes very much skewed. This is the digital-age version of expectations versus reality, and the impact that social media can have on distorting your reality. 

While Mickey was not necessarily a likeable character, she was not really meant to be. Not only does she distort her reality with social media, but this distortion also goes hand-in-hand with alcohol and drug abuse. She is a self-destructive, unreliable narrator, which made me really sympathize with her. Her identity issues, as well as body image pressure, is all fuelled by her fixation with not only being just like Gemma, but with the world inside her phone in general. Her family is dysfunctional, and she doesn't have any real friends, so she doesn't have anyone to keep her anchored in reality.

While Hayley Phelan’s writing style took a bit for me to get used to, once I got into Like Me I read it in a few sittings. It really made me reflect about my own life online and had me re-evaluating what really is important. While the content warnings for this book makes it an adult read, I think the important messages it sheds light on (about the dangers of the social media age) make it an important book to read. 

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

Book Review: A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery

By Serena Ewasiuk

A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery, translated by Alison Anderson, tells the story of Rose Uneno as she visits Kyoto, Japan to hear the reading of her late father’s will. Rose had never met her father, Haru, a successful art dealer, or visited Japan before. She feels resentful and hurt that her father didn’t contact her or have a relationship with her. When she arrives in Kyoto she stays at her late father’s house and is taken care of by his housekeeper, driver, and assistant Paul. Haru left an itinerary of special places for Rose to visit while in Japan and has instructed Paul to accompany her. The two forge a special bond during Rose’s time in Japan and love blooms.  

A Single Rose is a short novella that shines in the way it immerses the reader in experiencing Japanese culture. It is evident that Barbery has a true love for Japan and has experienced Kyoto firsthand. She captures the rich culture and gorgeous landscape with her observations and descriptive passages. First there is the food. Paul and Rose visit tea houses and restaurants, sharing meals and conversations, allowing the reader to share in these culinary experiences. There’s sake and beer, ginger and white radishes, matcha and udon.  

Barberry also provides the reader with rich depictions of nature as the two explore Zen gardens and ancient temples. The poetic and descriptive style of writing paints a vivid picture of Japan’s landscape. Rose, a botanist, appreciates the simple beauty of peonies, lilacs, azaleas, bamboo, and maple trees, and Barbery writes lush and poetic passages to set the backdrop of the story.  

A unique storytelling element within A Single Rose is the use of Japanese folktales, which are placed in between chapters to shed light on themes which will be explored in the forthcoming chapter.  While I enjoyed the folktales, they were at times too philosophical or cerebral, with quotes that were difficult to interpret.  

A Single Rose explores themes of love, forgiveness, growth, and second chances.  While the pacing felt off at times and the storyline was predictable, the novella shines in its lyrical homage to Kyoto. A Single Rose is a poignant story of a reawakening or blossoming, if you will, of Rose, who “at the age of forty, had not really lived.”

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

Book Review: The Other Side by Heather Camlot

By Carly Smith

Liam, a preteen hooked on soccer, is at his grandfather’s house on the lake when he finds a dead body nearby. As he tries to move on from this unexpected discovery, he can’t help but think more and more about what he saw. Whose body was it? Was it an accident? What was this person like when she was alive? 

With limited evidence, and with the help of friends and family, Liam works to piece together this young woman’s death while continuing with his everyday life. As he delves deeper into his detective work, he learns more about his grandfather’s past and how it may be connected to the death. However, his intense focus on solving the mystery proves difficult to successfully maintain his role on the soccer team, an activity which he has always loved and excelled at. Can Liam and his crew get to the bottom of this death, and if so, how will it change Liam’s life? 

Each character in The Other Side brings a unique dynamic to the plot. Camlot thoughtfully develops the characters’ personalities and idiosyncrasies, making it easy to visualize the book’s events, create a voice for each person, and really immerse oneself in the storyline. Liam, the protagonist, is clever, observant, and diligent. As his character is developed, it is clear that he is also caring, focused, and curious. We see this in his passion for soccer, his concern for his grandfather, and his interest in the suspicious death. His sister, Elvy, is a cheerful girl who brings a light-hearted air to the scene whenever she is present. She loves her brother dearly and is keen to be his sidekick in this exciting investigation. Opa, Liam and Elvy’s grandfather, is a man with much history; he is from Germany and is a veteran of World War II. He has been exposed to a lot in his lifetime and wishes for a delicate balance for Liam—that he knows the tragedies his grandfather lived through, but also that he is still able to carry on, not overly immersed in Opa’s past so much that it interferes with his own life. 

The Other Side was a quick read, but not so quick that readers can pay half-attention to the book’s events. Camlot revealed clues through dialogue and narrative, and I found myself enjoying this young adult murder mystery as much as any adult murder mystery I have read. Several times I felt it necessary to reread parts, not because something was poorly written but because some clues were so subtle that I second guessed myself, which is always a sign of a compelling book. I truly enjoyed how The Other Side was not strictly about a murder, but also woven within it was a historical fiction component. Overall, Camlot smoothly ties together the various parts of a young man’s life to create an engaging read for both young and not-so-young adults alike.

Book Review: Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

By Sara Hailstone

Content warning: Death, murder, addiction and drug use, racism, sexual violence, intergenerational trauma

The focus of reviewing Eden Robinson’s 2000 debut novel, Monkey Beach, is to acknowledge and highlight the power of activating textual layers of magic realism in providing a pathway of shamanism and spiritual components of the Haisla Nation throughout the book. Robinson guides her readers on this journey while simultaneously withholding the sacred power of knowing. What cumulates in this traditionally perceived coming-of-age narrative is an understanding of a young female protagonist’s reclamation of a way of being lost to immense colonial folds. 

Robinson set Monkey Beach in 1989 in her own hometown of Kitamaat Village, BC. The reader follows the fraught actions of 19-year-old Lisamarie, who learns of her brother’s disappearance and suspected drowning while working away on a fishing boat. Without her parents knowing, Lisamarie sets out on her own to find Jimmy. 

While trekking the Douglas Channel alone on an outboard, Lisamarie works through memories of lost loved ones. The reader is pulled through this narrative point-of-view of a close-knit family legacy of death, trauma, suicide, accident, and the immense bonds of love. Triggered, Lisamarie pushes through emotions of drug abuse, rape, and her mental health. Through this narrative weaving and intermingling of Lisamarie’s worldview, Robinson successfully evokes a multi-dimensioned existence of the supernatural, spiritual, and physical. Monkey Beach is a shaman story. 

“Contacting the dead, lesson one. Sleep is an altered state of consciousness…To contact the spirit world, you must control the way you enter this state of being that is somewhere between waking and sleeping.” 

Thus, Robinson threads throughout shifting timeframes of the present and past with spiritual teachings and conceptualizations of life that in reality transform the structure of the text itself into an awakening process. In combination with the polished execution of elements of magic realism is Robinson’s way of artistically and brilliantly pulling Lisamarie and the reader through a process of essential reclamation and, in my opinion, empowerment. 

In connection with the vibrancy of the land itself, Lisamarie’s world is ethereal and vividly layered. Supernatural beings like the B’gwus, or sasquatch make appearances, and she communicates with other Haisla spiritual beings through dreams, visions, and sightings. Lisamarie walks with the dead and the overlaying of an ethereal matrix with the young woman’s confrontation of colonial psychological and Western clinical views of mental illness and personality disorder. 

“Contacting the dead, lesson three. Seeing ghosts is a trick of concentration. You must be able to concentrate on nothing and everything at the same time.”

Her grandmother, Ma-ma-oo’s guidance and passing on of Haisla knowledge is also an initiation of shamanism. Lisamarie is instructed in the history of the Haisla people, herbology, walking in the way of the existence of the dead, translating the synchronicity of the appearance of supernatural phenomena and the realization and actualization of her power. “I felt deeply comforted knowing that magical things were still living in the world.” Two strong female characters, the learning and teachings carried out between Ma-ma-oo and Lisamarie prepare her best to journey after her missing brother.

The enthralling and magical components of Robinson’s writing is that the plotline embodies a West Coast mythology of the Spirit Canoe travelling to the Land of the Dead. Lisamarie journeys and navigates spiritual realms fully and risks being lost there. “Never mind about [Jimmy] now. Go back. You’ve come too far into this world. Go back,” she is warned upon reaching the dead’s shores and witnesses her ancestors dancing around a bonfire. Lisamarie is left on these shores at the end of the novel, existing multi-dimensionally, both rooted in the visceral and hooked to the ethereal. Regardless, my interpretation is that she is existing and more fully actualized than before her journey to find Jimmy. “I lie on the sand. The clamshells are hard against my back. I am no longer cold. I am so light I could just drift away. Close, very close, a B'gwus howls—not quite human, not quite wolf, but something in between. The howl echoes off the mountains. In the distance, I hear the sound of a speedboat.” Lisamarie is the plotline incarnate, a keeper of memory, a mediator of worlds, a practitioner of magic, ‘something in between.’ 

Book Review: The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

By Hayley Platt

The Last Train to Key West, published in June 2020, is a historical fiction novel set in 1935 in the Florida Keys when one of the most powerful hurricanes recorded passed through the area.  

Helen Berner lives in the Keys with an abusive husband and is nine months pregnant when the hurricane heads into town. Mirta Perez is brought to the Keys on her honeymoon with her new husband before they head to New York City permanently. Elizabeth Preston travelled to the Keys from New York and is hoping to find a missing family member who is likely in the camps where many veterans of the Great War are living. The book is set during the Great Depression, and even though that is not the focus of the storyline, readers can see how it has impacted each of the characters and how they deal with conflict.

The book is told from all three of their perspectives, but it is easy to keep each storyline straight as the author has mastered writing each of their perspectives in its own way. 

Cleeton has woven the stories of Mirta, Elizabeth, and Helen seamlessly as they prepare for and live through the hurricane. She has shown the strength and determination women of the time had, having lived through the war and the beginning of the Depression before encountering this extreme weather. All three women start off in Key West but travel separately to the town of Islamorada, where they weather the storm, each in their own way. At the end of the book, readers are left feeling satisfied with no major plot holes. It is clear how each storyline has come to a neat conclusion.

The Floridian landscape has a unique feeling, and the descriptions of the setting easily transport readers into the page alongside Cleeton’s heroines. As the storm rolls in, it is impossible to miss the darkness and worry within the pages.

In addition to the primary tale of surviving the hurricane, each perspective pulls in details about secondary storylines and history that may not be expected in historical fiction surrounding a specific event. Examples of this would be the lives of some army men following the war in the work camps which can be found in Elizabeth’s chapters. Helen’s chapters include fishermen at the time and the struggles women encountered in abusive relationships in the 1930s. Mirta’s chapters brought in background information about the Cuban Revolution in 1933. All of these topics added to the story paint a detailed picture of the lives of each of the women.

In addition to the spectacular writing, the cover design was developed using an image of a model from the cover of an issue of Vogue in 1952 superimposed onto an image of Key West.

This book is recommended to historical fiction lovers, especially those looking for stories set in the USA during the Great Depression. 

Book Review: Think Like an Artist, Don't Act Like One by Koos de Wilt

By Caprice Hogg

The title of this book piqued my interest as I hoped to read in-depth insights into how artists think despite poor life choices by said artists. 

Upon my initial read, I felt it was more of an art history book for beginners. It was an easy and entertaining read with only one or two paragraphs next to each work of art. As the book progressed, I found large gaps in information. The book begins with a sculpture from 25 000 B.C, and then we jump to Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1333 B.C. He briefly touches on art throughout the ages, but the large jumps bypassing entire centuries is disturbing. 

De Wilt features several works of art through the Renaissance with well-known artists such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian. He attempts to not only feature the famous artists but also a small cross-section of lesser-known artists from other countries such as Pieter Jansz from Holland. In actuality, this does the book a disservice as the world of art is simply too large to be undertaken in a book with only 591 small pages. The 18th century is skipped over with only one work of art for the entire century. He goes into impressionism, post-impressionism and almost the entire second half of the book is on post-expressionism and abstract art. It is weighted heavily in certain art movements.  

The author refers to this as “an illustrated book on life lessons in art.”  Yet, I feel no further enlightened towards what the artists thought on life lessons. Rather than quoting from great artists like Picasso or Dali, DeWilt quotes Steve Jobs instead. There was not only one quote from Jobs but two! I also fail to understand how De Wilt knew what the artist was thinking in 25 000 B.C.?

Another information gap is that the author sometimes wrote a description about the painting being shown, and at other times, he wrote a description of the artist’s life without any information about the painting itself. I was disappointed when, next to Van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace at Night, he did not describe why Vincent had painted a yellow horse walking down the street or anything about the cafe or the patrons. The writing was a brief description of VanGogh’s life featuring well-known details that did not give me any further insight into the art or life of VanGogh.  

Another discrepancy in the book is that sometimes a photo of the artist is featured rather than the actual work of the artist. Perhaps this is a copyright issue? Whatever the reason, I would like the art to be more consistent throughout.

I would not recommend this book as it falls short of its premise of giving readers a true picture of what artists truly think, nor does it give an accurate history of art.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy to review. 

Book Review: You by Caroline Kepnes

By Jamie Maletta

Content warning: Domestic violence, obsession, manipulation

I won’t lie: I have binge-watched every episode of the Netflix phenomenon You since I first came across it. I’ve seen every episode, and I’m currently (impatiently) waiting for the next season. Since we’re confessing dirty little secrets: I didn’t realize this on-screen masterpiece was an adaptation of the book series by Caroline Kepnes. I had no idea. I opened the perfectly wrapped Christmas gift to discover there are actually three books in this series and decided the first You would be my debut read of 2022. 

Diving into chapter one, we’re introduced to bookstore worker “Joe,” who we immediately realize has an obsession with women. There isn’t one thing about a good-looking woman that he’s within the vicinity of that Joe can’t contort into believing was intended for his pleasure. The way she looks, what she talks about, her body language—he’s completely convinced himself that these women want him. He absolutely believes he’s above everyone else and any of his personal downfalls he contorts into a justification to give him an advantage over others. 

When a young, unsuspecting Guinevere Beck (known as “Beck”) walks into his bookstore, the obsession becomes too real. He must get to know her in every which way possible, and he stops at nothing to do so. He learns the ins and outs about her schedule, family, and friends. He ensures she believes the many coincidences he’s corralled to be placed between the two of them appear organic and natural. It’s no surprise that when they inevitably end up dating, he believes it’s for the long haul and that everything he’s done is out of pure love and dedication. When things begin to unravel, and he can no longer control every situation, he begins to “fix” what is in their way. He will do anything for love, and Joe’s dedication knows no limits. 

I believe all of us know a “Joe,” or have been with or known someone to have been with a “Joe.” Maybe for you, it’s a feminine “Joe”—you get what I’m saying. As such, I believe this book could be incredibly triggering for anyone who’s experienced physical or psychological domestic abuse. The writing really gets into the mind of the manipulator, the narcissist, the person who believes every action they make is justified, no matter the effect or damage to their partner. Although this book is very well written, and one you just need to keep reading to know what’s going to happen next, I don’t believe that it’s for everyone. Some topics, some content, are worth leaving in the past. 

As an aside to my review, if you’re experiencing domestic violence, please reach out to a family member, friend, or professional for help. Too many individuals suffer in silence, and it’s time to end that stigma. You are a survivor. There is a way out and a life that awaits you on the other side of domestic violence. Please check out https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health- promotion/stop-family-violence/services.html for a list of resources in your area. 

Book Review: PlantYou by Carleigh Bodrug

Carly Smith

PlantYou delivers a variety of plant-based meal recipes that author Carleigh Bodrug promises are “ridiculously easy” and “amazingly delicious.” With a foreword by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a medical doctor passionate about gastrointestinal health, PlantYou encapsulates the benefits of plant-based eating, as well as the detriments of animal and animal by-product consumption. Along with the recipes, Bodrug offers suggestions about appliances and cookware, and presents a shopping list of plant-based staples that will help make this lifestyle more manageable. The recipes are grouped sensibly, making it easy to find recipes and navigate the book. 

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. There are elements of this book that really appealed to me and will keep me coming back to it time and time again. However, I argue that there are also shortcomings that made me think this book was more about making sales than delivering on Bodrug’s goal, which is to help readers incorporate more plants in their diet. Let’s start with the aspects of the cookbook that I enjoyed. 

First, the presentation is crisp. Each recipe follows the same format, is accompanied by a realistic photo, and unlike some cookbooks, the pages are not overwhelming to scan (this is essential when your eyes are constantly moving from page to cutting board and back again). Next, Bodrug is true to her word when she says that the recipes are easy and delicious. Often, authors lure readers in by guaranteeing quick and/or easy recipes, only to leave them frustrated and using more time than anticipated to create the recipe. Bodrug does the opposite, and in a refreshing change of pace, offers accurate and short preparation times for all her recipes. Not only was I left satisfied with being able to trust the time suggestion for each recipe, I was also overjoyed to find that these oil-free recipes were far from bland. Finally, I was really drawn to the substitutions made available for most recipes; cooking with new ingredients or adjusting to a new food lifestyle with intolerances and allergies can be difficult, and Bodrug thoughtfully offers substitutions for many ingredients and makes it clear that quite a few ingredients can be substituted based on availability or preference. This alleviated a lot of pressure in both the grocery store and the kitchen. 

Now I will address the parts of the cookbook I found to be disappointing or contradictory. To start, Bodrug labels her recipes as “infographic,” which piqued my interest because who doesn’t love a nice visual amongst a sea of words? The infographics are merely images of the individual ingredients in each recipe with their names below them. Although this was a letdown for me, perhaps it is helpful to readers who are visual learners or who are unfamiliar with the appearance of some of the less common ingredients. Next, I found a discrepancy between Bodrug’s push for concentrating on nutrient density and her breakdown of nutritional information for each recipe. She states, “I encourage you to let go of meticulously calculating macronutrient information and instead focus on increasing the nutrient density of your meals by fueling your body with whole, unprocessed foods as showcased in these recipes.” While she stresses the importance of all nutrients and posits that the focus on macronutrients is too intense in today’s world, the nutritional information for each recipe includes only the caloric, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and fibre contents. This was surprising to come across, especially since readers were previously persuaded about the benefits of other nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, and these amounts were not included in the nutritional breakdowns.

PlantYou is a lovely cookbook to have on hand. Its openness to substitutions, user-friendly layout, and breadth of meal options makes it desirable for cooks of all skill levels. The freshness of the recipes, as well as their simplicity and short prep times, are attractive elements that also add to the book’s utility. Although I was not satisfied with the infographics and nutritional information, I do think this can be overlooked by readers who do not diligently keep track of their nutrient intake and who have experience in the kitchen with alternative ingredients. PlantYou will not be stored in a bin of old books in the storage room in my house; it will be kept in the pantry alongside my other well-referenced cookbooks.

Book Review: Scorpion Season by Tara McGowan-Ross

By Meredith Grace Thompson

I swore I would stop 

apologizing in matters of sex and business, so instead I say: 

thank you for your time and your interest in this project. 

There is this old folktale about a scorpion and a fox—sometimes it’s a frog—in which the scorpion asks the fox to carry it across the river because it cannot swim. The fox refuses because it knows how dangerous the scorpion is but the scorpion begs, promising not to sting the fox at any point on their journey. The scorpion seems genuine and so the fox, who is not a cruel animal, finally agrees to ferry the scorpion across. And so they set out into the river, the fox paddling with the scorpion perched atop its back. Halfway across the river the scorpion stings the fox. As its body fills with poison the fox looks back and asks: Why have you done this? Now we are both going to die. The scorpion says only, I am sorry, but it is my nature. 

The point of this story, I suppose, is to be wary of scorpions, assuming the listener identifies entirely with the fox, because scorpions will always sting you even if they promise otherwise. But what of the scorpion? What of the creature who cannot help but follow its nature, even if that nature causes it to drown without malicious intent? 

Scorpion Season, a poetry collection by Montréal-based Mi’kmaw poet Tara McGowan-Ross, seems to ask this very question, with “coping mechanisms so strong they may kill her.” The collection is as immersive as a sensory deprivation tank. You enter the book and the world is dark; sound muffled in that particularly meditative way where air is heavy and you find yourself submerged fully in each poem. They begin to ring, softly at first, and then louder and louder. The collection walks the tightrope of confessional poetry, which risks melodrama if it is not masterfully handled. But McGowan-Ross is a master. She dances through each poem, landing on distinctive beats and luxuriating in each line while propelling onto the next. McGowan-Ross creates the through lines of the collection, weaving between each stand-alone poem with the dimensionality of a novel. Scorpion Season follows the creation of a speaker as seen through differing accounts by minor characters all of whom weave together the story of a self in its formation, dealing with identity, addiction, eating disorders, friendship, love, self-love, academia, philosophy, family, and grief.  

The underlying beat of the collection is strong, giving McGowan-Ross space to use staccato notes, dancing softly on the syncopated beat. The beat changes, as do the syncopations, but McGowan-Ross’s skill is consistently shown throughout. The form remains close knit yet mouldable—as gauze over a wound. McGowan-Ross has an innate understanding of form, to rival any contemporary poet. Embedding trope, formal structure, mixed chronology, and more experimental styles including psychiatrist’s notes and emails with mysteriously redacted names, McGowan-Ross moves seamlessly throughout the seemingly sporadic yet meticulously intentional chronology of the collection (sometimes jumping between years from one poem to the next) to create an articulated self which expresses much more than its own selfhood.  

Churning through grief in physical form, through the carried intergenerational trauma of waves of colonized peoples in the folds of an individual body, through self-loathing, through causing the fox beneath you to drown, the speaker of McGowan-Ross’s collection is magnanimous. McGowan-Ross is a delight on paper. Her delightfulness radiates to make you wish she was the friend sitting next to you filled with laughter and stories of youthful rambunctiousness until far too early in the morning. 

In one interpretation, the tale of the scorpion and the fox presupposes the reality and functionality of a precise human nature; “mental defect: philosophy degree.” A secondary interpretation views the fable as a comment on individual nature. We are a composite of our contexts; “a psychologist tells me we repeat our parents’ habits in love and money. my immediate family history is one of resource mismanagement.” We are a mosaic of everything that we are or were or can be. All these things create our nature. 

NATIONALITY: Colonized 

RACE: Restless 

INSURANCE: handouts 

PRIMARY CARE: Alcohol

Scorpion Season is a revelatory look inside/beside/behind/in front of/and towards a mystical creature called woman/human/queer/philosopher/pervert/poet/artist/friend/daughter/sister/mother/lover/mentor/self and always (and always) filled with promises. 

I promise not to egg your house or cause a scene at your work

Book Review: The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

By Sara Hailstone

The residue of my reading experience with Rena Rossner’s The Sisters of the Winter Wood was an “aha” moment after finishing the novel and reading of the book’s historical rootedness in the author’s Jewish family history, and the intertextuality of folklore blended with the fantasy genre. In a historical note following the story Rossner records that “On March 20, 1903, the body of a young Christian Ukrainian boy named Mikhail Rybachenko was found drained of blood in the garden of a Jewish man named Yossl Filler in the shtetl of Dubossary, on the border between the Ukraine and Moldova.” This event resulted in over 1,300 pogroms, attacks on Jewish persons in the Ukraine. Rossner has personal ties to this history. “As a result of the pogrom in Dubossary, my great-uncle, Abraham Krovetz, made his way to America via Ellis Island in 1905.” The extension of this narrative is that during World War II the Nazis exterminated the remaining Jewish people of Dubossary and buried all 6,000 in a mass grave. Rossner writes, “Every family member of mine who did not make it to America from 1903 to 1912 was slaughtered by the Nazis in 1940, together with the rest of the Jews of the town. Only 100 to 150 Jews from Dubossary survived.” So, as a debut novel in 2018, The Sisters of the Winter Wood is grounded in historical, biographical, and literary elements of truth, fantasy, and fiction. 

The story depicts the coming-of-age and fantastical loss of innocence of two sisters, Laya and Liba, who live close to the village of Dubossary with their parents. Despite the novel’s intriguing idea of combining history with a re-imagining of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” the literary parallels suffer from the pacing of the plot. Before the parents are called away from their homestead to the deathbed of grandfather-rabbi with the intention to achieve familial reconciliation, the reader is shown rather quickly that both parents shapeshift.  

           The mother is a swan and the father is a bear, and there is family history of separation between the swan and bear lineage. The sisters are left alone to process the reality of shapeshifting, family truths of parental heritage, and their own changing existences of human into animal—Laya will become a swan like her mother, and Liba will grow into a bear like her father. I wanted to fall into this fantasy environment like I would with elements of magic realism in literary fiction, but the writing did not enable me too. I finished the story knowing I do not fully believe or am convinced. I think if these details were revealed slowly with a more integrated backstory, the shapeshifting wouldn’t feel rushed or artificially inserted. 

When I first picked up the novel I was interested in the evident shift in narrative point-of-view between the two sisters in both prose and poetry sections. I was excited for the poetry sections. The textual style reflects the sister’s personalities. Prose is detailed and reveals observation, emotional intelligence and deep thought with Liba, the older sister. The poetry sections flow with pockets of air and space around them. One text of underbrush fit for a bear. One text of air fit for a swan to fly. I wanted the poetry to inspire and captivate me, but I found while reading that these sections were sentence fragments. I wanted lyrical poetry with imagery, metaphor, and a deeper message. One strength of the writing style is Rossner’s language that achieves interconnectivity between the sisters and nature. These descriptions were poetic and convincing. 

I suggest that in attempting to achieve a cross-genre text of history, fiction, and fantasy, Rossner could have written a creative nonfiction text combining historical records and direct literary references to “Goblin Market.” An intertextual product could possibly achieve her desire to integrate the history of atrocity of the Jewish people of Dubossary, her family history, literary references and the sensuality of “Goblin Market,” and the author’s Russian/Romanian/Moldavian/Ukrainian heritage. Overall, in making a connection to Jewish suffering, scapegoating, and shapeshifting, a point of existence could be mastered of other worlds/realities, hidden dimensions, and capacities that could close the gaps in the narrative to make it more believable. The novel needs a firmer understanding of a magic system, worldbuilding, and a power structure or system of government in flushing out who holds power within this world. 

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

By Samreen Khan

There is no other way to put this—I read this book in four days flat, which is a huge feat as I am a working mother of two kids and also because this book is 500 pages long. 

The City of Brass is the first book of the Daevabad trilogy. And you should read this book if you like Muslim folklore; grew up in a Muslim household listening to such folklore; are intrigued by the story of Prophet Suleiman and the Djinns; and if you thrive on stories revolving around mythical creatures, warring tribes, vengeance, sibling squabbles, love, loyalty, friendship, and strong female protagonists. 

This book is a dream come true for Muslim fantasy nerds—it represents a part of Muslim culture and identity in a way that I never thought was possible. The book starts off in Cairo with Nahri, who is a con woman by profession and our lead female character who carries forward all three books of the trilogy. Nahri uses tricks, deceptions, sleight of hand, and knowledge of natural medicines to perform healing rituals to earn her livelihood. One day while performing a zar (a healing custom for troubled souls), Nahri unknowingly taps into a long-forgotten part of her heritage and ends up calling a warrior Djinn named Dara to her aid. And from here the adventure begins and she is transported to the ancient, magical City of Brass—Daevabad—that is hidden from human eyes and is the capital city of all magical races. 

Nahri is catapulted from the war-torn streets of Cairo where ghouls are chasing her to the edgy city of Daevabad that traces its political lineage to the times of Prophet Suleiman (Solomon). It is here that Nahri must face the question of who she really is. Does she truly belong to the lost ancient bloodline that was destined to rule Daevabad as per Suleiman’s wish? The city is fraught with tribal rivalry and rife with tensions between pure blooded Djinns and the Shafit (who are of mixed human and Djinn heritage). And all this is kept under tight control by the current ruler of Daevabad, Ghasan Al Qahtani, who views Nahri as a direct threat to his throne. Nahri unwittingly gets involved with court politics, Dara her warrior Djinn, and Ghasan’s two sons Muntadhir and Alizayd. 

If the plot summary above sounds like a lot—that’s because it is. It’s an entire parallel universe that has been created from scratch by the author who has been very true to Islamic sources and Muslim folklore, and must be applauded for the same. 

I truly enjoyed reading the book because of how it is set parallel to the French invasion of Ottoman Cairo in the 18thcentury; in the human world Nahri faces the impending invasion and then she gets transported to the magical world where again rebellion is brewing. The character of Nahri grows exponentially from the first chapter to the last. Nahri works for her survival at all times, but as her friendships cement with Dara, the warrior sworn to protect her, and Prince Alizayd, she realizes she is not as independent of emotions as she thought she was. She begins to care about the people who surround her and care for her in their own ways. She also learns to trust more, even at times to her detriment. We don’t see much growth in terms of Dara’s character arc, but the character arc that will truly impress readers is that of Prince Alizayd who is standoffish and orthodox in his approach to faith; he has very strong principles and is against the injustices that he sees. Alizayd’s character grows from a rigid box to that of a more open-minded person as he becomes friends with Nahri due to his father’s pressure. After befriending a woman who used to thrive on conning others, Alizayd is amazed at his acceptance of her nature, and he becomes more receptive to the fact that the world is grey-toned. 

Chakraborty writes with a flow and charm that cannot be denied. As a first-time novelist you can see the author’s writing style pick up after the first few chapters when the characters get more drawn out and the plot thickens. Overall the writing is well-researched and the influence of history and medieval Islamic world is evident in it. 

The City of Brass is a well-crafted universe where magical creatures reside, magnificent cities exist, and astounding palaces and libraries hide secrets of the unknown. It takes readers down a mesmerizing fantastical journey that ties intrigue, mystery, love, and loyalty in varying shades of grey. It is a whole new world that awaits you, much more fulfilling than any contemporary magical series can be. This book fills a much needed gap in the Muslim fantasy fiction genre. 

Book Review: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

By Megan Amato

Content warning: violence, murder, parental death

Once in a while comes a book, usually in a series, that you know as soon as you finish reading it will be placed upon the shelf with those other volumes you turn to when you need a familiar friend to see you out of a reading slump. Something you can count on. Comfort reads. Kalynn Bayron’s YA contemporary fantasy The Poison Heart has very firmly been placed on that shelf.

When Briseis inherits a house from an unknown birth aunt, she and her two moms trial spending their summer there so Briseis can explore her gift and learn more about her heritage—one where plants bloom and grow at her touch and allow her to handle the deadliest plants without dire consequences. As Briseis settles into this town filled with strange inhabitants, newfound freedom settles over her, she begins a budding romance with a mysterious girl, and she reveals her magic to a friend for the first time. Soon, that sense of safety is ripped away when it’s revealed that the garden out back holds an even deadlier secret than the plants grown there. Kept under lock and key is a plant that her ancestors have kept safe for generations. One that others would kill to get their hands on. 

After I read Bayron’s debut sapphic YA fantasy novel, Cinderella is Dead, she became an instant-buy author. She has a way of creating incredibly likeable characters—teenage ones at that!—and Briseis was no different. As she works through the labyrinth that is her heritage, it is easy to sympathize with the mistakes she makes from the sense of loneliness that comes with her gift, her desperation to keep her remarkable family from fearing her, and the weariness resulting from protecting deadly secrets. One of my pet peeves in young adult fantasy is when protagonists barely react to traumatic events, especially murder or death, and quickly move on with their lives. However, writers like Bayron ensure that you feel every emotion of Briseis’s as she is confronted with traumatic events: new love, impulsive curiosity, primal fear, blinding anger, and paralyzing grief. It reminds you that even with her magic, she’s still human. 

One of my favourite elements in the novel was Briseis’s moms and their unconditional support of their daughter through everything. Adoption always comes with its share of trials and traumas, and when birth families are suddenly involved, it can be painful for both the adoptee and adoptive parents. However, Briseis’s parents are open and honest with her while encouraging her to learn about her heritage at her own pace. Even as the plot develops and unbelievable circumstances come to light, they trust that Briseis was telling the truth and that she could make the right decisions—it contrasted nicely with another less-than-appealing parental relationship in the novel. 

Contemporary/urban fantasy is one of my favourite genres. I love the blend of myth and folklore with the real world. Bayron does it beautifully, layering Greek mythology into this small modern town full of big characters and even bigger stakes. Many of my favourite tropes are found in this novel, including nature-based magic, a small town filled with colourful characters, and a powerful love interest who’s a softie for the protagonist. This book was easy to read, bursting with beautiful botanical descriptions, and full of humour that had me giggling out loud. I will leave you with these final words: if a mysterious kind lady tells you not to grow oleander, for the love of the Greek gods, listen to her!

Book Review: The Naidisbo by Megan Wood

By Larissa Page

Content warning: attempted rape

Torekan has been under the rule of The Order of Alvar for 150 years. The theocracy is ruled by powerful Aitas’, who hold “pure” magic (magic that draws only from one’s self), and who have been systematically eradicating the naturalists (whose magic draws from the earth). The Naidisbo are a family of people whose magic gives them control over the bodies of others, from calming them down to even stopping their hearts. Fear of them caused them to be culled in the last uprising. Believed to all be dead, it is a surprise to the Order and the Rebels alike when a nurse from within the Order reveals herself to be a Naidisbo. Anika is forced to flee with rebels she doesn’t know and embarks on a journey of learning who she is, where she fits, and which side of this war she will be standing on.

This debut novel, the first of a two-part installment, does an excellent job worldbuilding the land of Torekan. There’s a lot at play here: not only are there several different types of magic held within the regions of Torekan, but there are also multiple levels of military/Order positions. Wood does her best to explain each one, and while it can be easy to confuse a Doctor for a Komandante or a Lider, Wood does a good job at having those positions be important to the story without the reader needing to have a full understanding of what they mean to get the full sense of what is happening. 

The same is true for the magic that the naturalist rebels hold and where each of the rebels come from within Torekan. Each magic and background is explained, and explained well, but it is not necessary to hold that information with you as the story continues. I personally like this within fantasy novels, because when you read multiple fantasies it can be easy to get new worlds mixed up. I love learning a new world and I like a well-built world, but I also like not needing to rely on my memory of specific aspects of the worlds to enjoy and understand the story.

There is a large cast of characters in this novel, some more front and centre than others. We are not given full backgrounds on each character, but the ones we get are given to us in a creative way. In a few instances within the story a chapter will jump back and give us a quick origin story; these origin stories were well placed and well used. I hope we will get more of them in the second installment—there are other characters I am longing to know more about.

I did find there to be a bit too much travelling up and down the landmass of Torekan. I wished the characters had stayed in one place or not broken up into groups so often, but this is something I’ve noticed is very common in fantasy novels. 

Wood does a good job in representing the inequalities and injustices that occur within a confined landmass and with perceived “pure” versus “impure” magic. I am looking forward to reading the second installment and experiencing the conclusion of this story.