Genre
Book Review: The Garden of Delights by Amal Singh
A world where petals are currency and flowers are magic. A man battling a curse of eternal old age. A girl who can be his boon. But it's not all tulips and roses. There are also nettles and thorns. Where Delights persist, Sorrow must follow. In the city of Sirvassa, where petals are currency and flowers are magic, the Caretaker tends to the Garden of Delights. He imparts temporary magical abilities to the citizens of Sirvassa, while battling a curse of eternal old age. No Delight could uplift his curse, and so he must seek out a mythical figure. A god. When a Delight allows a young girl an ability to change reality, the Caretaker believes he’s at the end of his search. But soon a magical rot takes root in his Garden, and the Caretaker must join forces with the girl and stop it from spreading.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Happy book anniversary to Monster Ridge!
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Victor and Silje thought they'd already left Hotel Fen and its horrors behind. But hunting them are Victor's godly brothers: Thor the Thunderer, Tyr the Battle-God, and Hodr the God of Winter. Convinced that Ragnarok, the end of all things, is about to begin, they either want Victor fighting on their side — or out of their way. With Ada the gretten katt and their dwarven weaponsmith Ivaldi, Victor and Silje set off for Vanaheim, seeking out the Vanir runemistress Freya, and a safe haven. But the more their pasts unfold, the more they realize that they're caught in the crosshairs of an ancient feud between Odin, the King of the Nine Realms, and his blood brother Loki, the Destroyer of Worlds.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Rin's Golden Dream. Content Warning.
Rain lashed against the rickety shack, the wind howling like a famished wolf. Inside, huddled beneath a threadbare blanket, sat Rin. A skinny girl of ten, with eyes the color of storm clouds and hair like tangled seaweed, she clutched a worn book, its pages filled with fantastical tales of faraway lands and unimaginable wealth. It was her only escape from the harsh reality of her life.
By ANNA CORAL2 years ago in BookClub
Ink on Starlight . Content Warning.
Amara, a seasoned cartographer with ink-stained fingers and a thirst for the unknown, stumbled upon a weathered parchment tucked within a dusty tome. It depicted a swirling vortex, an impossible gateway rumored to lead to the Celestial Cartography, a mythical archive charted by constellations. The thought of such a place, a library woven from starlight, ignited a spark within her.
By ANNA CORAL2 years ago in BookClub
Whispers in the Red Dust
Once upon a time Dr. Anya Petrova squinted at the Martian sunrise, the thin atmosphere turning the horizon a pale, bruised purple. Ten years. Ten years since she'd left the vibrant blue of Earth for the rusty red of Mars. Back then, she'd been filled with a fierce pioneer spirit, the first botanist on a fledgling colony. Now, a creeping loneliness gnawed at her.
By ANNA CORAL2 years ago in BookClub
The Teacher
Sarah Thompson stepped into the hallowed halls of Oakwood High School with a mix of nerves and excitement. As a new English teacher, she was eager to make a difference in the lives of her students. Little did she know that her journey at Oakwood would lead her down a path she never expected—one of intrigue, manipulation, and psychological warfare.
By Benjamin Earnest Otega2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett
Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . . In an alternate London, the city's Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production - the Show - has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls. Juliet's mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It's only when her father passes away that Juliet - now nineteen - learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother's death and her father's years of silence - and claim her birthright. But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . . For fans of The Miniaturist and The Doll Factory, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a place where nothing is as it seems.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: Snowblooded by Emma Sterner-Radley
Valour and Petrichor are esteemed members of the Order of Axsten, an assassin’s guild tasked with keeping order in the rough city of Vinterstock. Plucked from the streets as children and raised to compete for their guild’s approval, Valour uses her brawn to survive, while Petrichor strives to be a gentleman assassin. When they’re given their biggest job yet—to kill Brandquist, the mysterious leader of the city's illegal magic trade—it’s a recipe for disaster. If they can quell their rivalry long enough, the reward will be enough to settle their debts with the Order and start new lives. If this job wasn’t dangerous enough, Valour is saddled with protecting the aristocrat, Ingrid Rytterdahl. Valour finds her dangerously attractive, but Petrichor can’t wait to be rid of them both. He begrudgingly accepts Ingrid’s knowledge and connections as they navigate the city’s criminal underbelly in pursuit of Brandquist. As secrets bubble to the surface, the duo must outwit the thugs on their tail, keep Ingrid alive, and—hardest of all—work together without murdering each other.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
