Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey

So, this is the first book I've managed to read in October. (I know. It's a terrible thing. The lack of reading, that is. The book is wonderful.) It came last weekend. I picked it up from the post office around noon, came home and started reading.

I didn't put it down until the end.

The end came way too soon. I'm hopeful, based solely on one scene in the book with information that as yet has gone nowhere, that there is at least one sequel planned. I would rather have a whole series.

I forced urged my older daughter to read it as soon as I finished it. A couple of days later, she started it around bedtime. (Can't just immediately do anything Mom says, right? I think it's against the pre-teen laws or something.) Pretty sure she stayed up most of the night reading it, because she was finished with it the next afternoon.

This is very much a fairy tale. It has many of the standard fairy tale trappings: princes (well, one), a princess, fairies and goblins, a dragon, knights... The whole shebang. It's very reminiscent of her 100 Kingdoms books, if you've read any of those. Fairy tales with a twist. And I can't get enough of those stories. Never could. My favorite part of the book is what's missing. This particular fairy tale has absolutely no romance. Doesn't need it. Don't miss it.

The book begins with a reasonably standard Sleeping Beauty set-up. But, Aurora is only a baby. For the entire book. This isn't actually her story. It's the story of her older sister, Miriam. And you should read it.

(I'm trying so very hard not to include any spoilers here. Which means I have to leave out so much!)

Miriam absolutely adores her new baby sister. And when the baby is threatened by an evil fairy, Miri steps in and vows to protect her sister. No matter what. 

I better stop before I say too much. Just go read it. Right now. We'll talk about how great it is when you've finished it. Deal?

 

You Should Be Reading...

 Rick Riordan

(author of the Percy Jackson books, the Kane Chronicles, the Trials of Apollo books, and more)

I first stumbled on Rick Riordan years before my kids were even close to old enough to read them. I read the first set of Percy Jackson books because everyone online seemed to be talking about them. And they were good. I very much enjoyed them. But then, I stuck them in a corner and moved on to other stories.

Fast forward several years. 

I went to enroll my kids into their new schools after our move. The school was giving away books. It was late in the day and they made the mistake of telling me to take as many books as my kids would want. (Pro tip: NEVER say anything like that to a bookworm who's trying to raise bookworms. We will wipe you out! You will have NO books left!) I was kind to them, since they had no clue what they had just done and I only chose a few books for each of my girls. Among them, the first three (or was it four?) of the second set of Percy Jackson books.

Because, here's the thing. I have somehow accidentally gotten a child that adores mythology. I'm not quite sure how that happened. I didn't do it on purpose. But one book led to another series led to...  She started off with Greek mythology- and I suppose a little Roman thrown in, since Athena was not wrong when she called them copycats*- and then moved on into Norse myths, forcing me to try and catch up with her. (I had never read any Norse mythology until then.) But, the point is, I knew she'd love Percy Jackson once she met him. 

I was not wrong. She has now raced through every Rick Riordan book that I have managed to get my hands on. And she wants to see the musical (how I'll manage that, I have no idea. There doesn't seem to be a recorded version anywhere). She even wants to watch the movie(s?) that were made from the first set of books. (So, I guess I'll be searching for that soon, too...)

She just finished the Trials of Apollo series this week. (I have NOT finished yet, because stupid work and chores and what do you mean I have to feed you people again?? Stuff like that. But, I'm in book 4, so I'm not too far behind.)

And I suppose that's the whole reason you should be reading Rick Riordan. Because while, technically, he writes these books for the upper-range middle grade audience (or the lower ages of the young adult audience, take your pick), they are just as entertaining for adults. These are books that you can read with your kids, or alongside of them, and all of you will enjoy the experience. And you might accidentally learn some cool mythology in the process. Several different types of mythology. So far I've encountered Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian (which I am completely unfamiliar with, so that was a new adventure.)

I have always firmly believed that you can never be too old for a truly good story, no matter what age it was intended for. These books prove my point. Give them a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

*The Mark of Athena, chapter 17, I believe. Athena calls them "horrible, dishonorable, copycat Romans." I've always had a preference for the Greek names and stories, so I found her copycat accusation to be very fitting. I may have even giggled.

You Should Be Reading...

 Seanan McGuire:

  -author of the October Daye series, the InCryptid series, the Wayward Children series, and more

This is a writer I have only recently discovered. Once again, living in a cave for a decade has its drawbacks. I don't remember exactly when I began noticing the name all over bookstore shelves but suddenly, there they were. Everywhere. And they looked good. Unfortunately, I was in a position that didn't allow much buying of books. :( I had no actual income at that point and it was all I could do to keep up with a handful of my very favorite authors. No branching out possible. For some reason, I have been unlucky in libraries in that none of them near me have extensive collections of SFF. (I've begun to suspect that no public library in the country has extensive SFF holdings, sadly. But maybe I'm wrong. I certainly haven't been to every library around. Though it might be nice to try.) I still can't find her actual books in my library. But now that I've finally gotten into the e-book lending program, things have started looking up. They have quite a few there. 

Anyway, I finally got my hands on the first book in two of her series, October Daye and InCryptid, just before life unexpectedly blew up and everything got shoved to the side. About nine months or so ago, I found them waiting patiently on my TBR shelf and pulled them down. Since then I've read everything I can get my hands on. Seanan has won a spot on my short list of authors I will read every time. And boy, do I have a LOT of catching up to do! (I love that! I can read as fast as I want/can get the books. No other waiting required!)

Thanks to my library's e-book lending program, I have managed to read all of the InCryptid books and am now reduced to waiting for the next one like everyone else. (I hate that. Even the fastest writers take forever to give me new stories...) I have also devoured the Wayward Children series. I'm so excited that the newest one was just released. Hopefully I will have it in my greedy little hands- and read- by the time this post is published. (Sadly not. I'm still waiting on the mailman.) I'm still stalled on Toby, as my library doesn't have the second book in either real or electronic copies, and I really want to read them in order. But I will get there. In the meantime, I'm re-reading Wayward Children and InCryptid. So far these are my favorite of her series.

Why you should read InCryptid: Because it's great, obviously. If Buffy the Vampire Slayer had been a ballroom dancer, she would have been very similar to Verity Price. Sort of. The InCryptid series follows the Price Family, scientists and monster-hunters who save the world (or at least certain local areas of it) on a regular basis. All while trying to hide from their enemies and conserve species that science refuses to recognize. (Screaming yams, anyone?)

Why you should read Wayward Children: Also, because it's great. But this one has a creepier feel to me. (I like a little spooky. Sometimes.) It has a wide-ranging and (as far as I can tell) inclusive cast of characters, all of them children (at some point in their stories) who were misfits and ran away to various nightmare worlds where they actually did fit. So far, there are six books. I'm hoping for many more. And also that the mail will hurry up all ready and bring me the new one...

You Should Be Reading...

Abby Jimenez

- author of  The Friend Zone, The Happy Ever After Playlist, and the upcoming Life's Too Short

I have a confession to make. I don't read romance novels. Like, ever.  At least, I didn't.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, having read pretty much the entire public library, I looked around for something -anything!- else to read. Pickings were slim. If it looked even remotely interesting, I had already read it. Except... there was one shelf. It was the 'here, just take it' shelf where they keep all the books they don't care about getting back. More properly called the 'Book Exchange', it was the only place in the library that operated on the 'have a penny, need a penny' principle. And it was completely full of romance novels. You know the ones, with their matching covers and swirly writing. The half-naked characters in various swooning poses. Yeah, those.

Up until then, I had never really paid attention to these books. Being only in junior high, they had never caught my notice and there was a whole library full of dragons and spaceships that were much more important. But now desperation loomed and, needing a new story, their little matching covers called to be explored. So, I took a few home to try.

Please don't scream at me. I am well aware that very many people LOVE these books and if that happens to be your jam, congratulations. I wish you much joy. But.

They were not for me. Maybe I was too young. Maybe I grabbed the wrong books. Maybe they were from the wrong printing company. Whatever the reason- I hated them. Every single one that I looked at.

The result was rereading a lot of my favorite books a lot of times and an almost allergic reaction at any suggestion that I might read *gasp* a love story. Ever since then, I have religiously avoided the entire romance section of every bookstore I have entered and I have never willingly or knowingly read anything that would be labeled romance.  

But then...

One day my social media pages were covered with photos of a cake. Yeah, that one, with the now trademarked name. And the hilarious tweets and photos from the woman responsible for it going viral. Enter the cupcake lady, Abby Jimenez. This was the first I had heard of her, but she was hilarious and entertaining. I quickly followed her social media accounts for much needed laughs.

Then she announced that she had written a book and was being published. I was so excited! Then she told me it was a romance. Cue the tears (see aforementioned life-long prejudice). I was so upset. This woman was hilarious and entertaining and she was wasting all that talent on a romance. (I know, I know. Please don't scream at me.)

Time went by. Everyone was LOVING this book (The Friend Zone). I was just sad that I couldn't read it. (I know!)

And then I couldn't stand it anymore. I signed up for the wait list at my library. It was forever long. So I waited. And waited. And then, it was finally my turn. I loaded it onto my kindle and settled down to give it a go.

I did not stand up again until that book was over. I laughed, I cried, I got caught up in the plot and the characters. I fell in love with this story. There was only one thing left to do. 

I immediately jumped on the waiting list for The Happy Ever After Playlist. And it was every bit as good as The Friend Zone. I promptly bought myself copies of both. And I have pre-ordered my copy of the new book, Life's Too Short. The only horrible thing about that is it isn't due to be released until April. I don't want to wait that long!

And, I believe now I can officially claim that I am cured of my decades-long shunning of an entire genre. I've even read another romance (knowingly and willingly) since. And I'm giving all the credit to the hilarious Abby Jimenez, who showed me that a good romance should indeed have an actual plot in addition to the sex scenes. Although, those are good too. (I'm still not ready to revisit any of the old imprint series that started this whole problem, though. Please don't ask.)

One important note: You need to be aware that these books contain some of the same characters. At least, the first two definitely do. (I have not yet gotten my hands on the new one. And I NEED April to get here as soon as possible. But what little story summary information I have seen suggests there may be some relation to previous characters.) For best reading without spoilers, you should definitely start with The Friend Zone. If you don't mind spoilers, then disregard this entirely. :)

I highly recommend you give Abby Jimenez and her books a try. Even if you think you don't like romance novels.