Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #448: Fields' Guide to Secrets by Julie Mulhern

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: 

No good deed goes unpunished.

The trouble started in Greece with a favor for her new father-in-law. When Poppy Fields picked up a package in Athens, she had no idea how many people were interested in its contents. Desperately interested. Murderously interested.

Now she's on the run, racing across Turkey in a cat-and-mouse game with multiple killers. Because what's in the package could change the world.

Fields' Guide to Secrets by Julie Mulhern is expected out January 31st, 2023 from J&M Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? I"ve enjoyed the Poppy Fields series from the beginning. This is the 8th book in the series. I have liked seeing Poppy's depth of character revealed and grown. I like the banter in the books as well. And I'm really curious as to what's in that box. Poppy's books are part mystery and part action and all enjoyable.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Happy Book Birthday to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

 

Today Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is released by Del Rey Books. 

From the publisher:

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, muddle Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.

I've read the book and have a review posting soon. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it. If you like stories about Faeries and books set in the early 1900s, then this could be a good pick for you. Check it out!

Book Review: Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa

 

From the publisher:

Boardwalk Empire meets The Vanishing Half with a touch of earth magic in this sexy and action-packed historical fantasy set in the luminous Golden Twenties from debut author Desideria Mesa, where a part-time reporter and club owner takes on crooked city councilmen, mysterious and deadly mobsters, and society’s deeply rooted sexism and racism, all while keeping her true identity and magical abilities hidden—inspired by an ancient Mexican folktale.

Yo soy quien soy. I am who I am.

Luna—or depending on who’s asking, Rose—is the white-passing daughter of an immigrant mother who has seen what happens to people from her culture. This world is prejudicial, and she must hide her identity in pursuit of owning an illegal jazz club. Using her cunning powers, Rose negotiates with dangerous criminals as she climbs up Kansas City’s bootlegging ladder. Luna, however, runs the risk of losing everything if the crooked city councilmen and ruthless mobsters discover her ties to an immigrant boxcar community that secretly houses witches. Last thing she wants is to put her entire family in danger.

But this bruja with ever-growing magical abilities can never resist a good fight. With her new identity, Rose, an unabashed flapper, defies societal expectations all the while struggling to keep her true self and witchcraft in check. However, the harder she tries to avoid scrutiny, the more her efforts eventually capture unwanted attention. Soon, she finds herself surrounded by greed and every brand of bigotry—from local gangsters who want a piece of the action and businessmen who hate her diverse staff to the Ku Klux Klan and Al Capone. Will her earth magic be enough to save her friends and family? As much as she hates to admit it, she may need to learn to have faith in others—and learning to trust may prove to be her biggest ambition yet.

My thoughts:

Luna is a strong female protagonist. This is very much her story. And while I didn't like all the choices she made, I did like her overall. 

I found Luna's magic as well as her grandmother's magic interesting. Her grandmother is capable of bigger acts of magic than Luna at the moment, but she encourages Luna to practice and learn to better use her magic. I liked that family ties were a strong part of the book. And that magic was accepted as a natural part of the world.

I was surprised at Luna owning a club as Rosa. It would be difficult because she was a woman. And then she also employed minorities like her own brother. There were men who wanted to take control of her club and barring success, they wanted to put her out of business. And there were good men as well who helped her to set new goals and meet them. But, it is a dangerous world she lives and works in. I was a little surprised at the appearance of the KKK, but in retrospect, they would have probably thought Luna would be an easy target.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I gave it 4 stars out of 5. I liked the characters associated with Luna in general. I enjoyed seeing how her choices turned out. And I liked the way she weathered the struggles she faced.

If you like stories with a strong, magical female protagonist and stories that are set in the 1920s, then this would be a good book for you.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Book Review: River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan

 

From the publisher:

When Eva’s husband is arrested for the murder of a friend, she must confront her murky past and embrace her magick to find out what really happened that night on the river.

Eva Santos Moon is a burgeoning Chicana artist who practices the ancient, spiritual ways of brujería and curanderisma, but she’s at one of her lowest points—suffering from disorienting blackouts, creative stagnation, and a feeling of disconnect from her magickal roots. When her husband, a beloved university professor and the glue that holds their family together, is taken into custody for the shocking murder of their friend, Eva doesn’t know whom to trust—least of all, herself. She soon falls under suspicion as a potential suspect, and her past rises to the surface, dredging up the truth about an eerily similar death from her childhood.

Struggling with fragmented memories and self-doubt, an increasingly terrified Eva fears that she might have been involved in both murders. But why doesn’t she remember? Only the dead women know for sure, and they’re coming for her with a haunting vengeance. As she fights to keep her family out of danger, Eva realizes she must use her magick as a bruja to protect herself and her loved ones, while confronting her own dark history.

A psychological thriller that weaves together the threads of folk magick with personal and cultural empowerment, River Woman, River Demon is a mysterious incantation of reckoning with the past and claiming one’s unique power and voice.

My thoughts:

This book is a paranormal thriller. That being said, it would be a thriller even without the paranormal aspects. Eva Santos Moon makes a perfect main character. We are seeing through her eyes and from her perspective. It's hard for her to tell exactly what's real. So, it's hard for us to know also. That alone is frightening. Add in that her husband is being detained for the drowning murder of a close friend of theirs and that ratchets up the tension and suspense. 

This book works well as a paranormal thriller because of the ways that Eva and her family handle Majick. When Eva asks for supernatural help, it really starts the part of the plot where mystery and Majick intertwine.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a page - turner. I liked the characters readers are supposed to like, and didn't like the ones we're not supposed to like. I didn't like some of the choices the characters made, but it made them more real. I would recommend this book to people who like paranormal thrillers as well as those who like a story where Majick is accepted as real and attainable.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #447: The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency by Peter Oxley

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: London, 1868. The streets are haunted by thieves, murderers… and demons from beyond the Aether.

Spencer and Bart are the city’s most incompetent crooks, and they are in deep trouble. Hunted by both police and their fellow criminals, they are forced to consider the unthinkable —going straight.

Forming The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency, they thought their troubles were behind them, but they soon find themselves caught up in a web far more dangerous than they could ever imagine, pitched against demons, criminals and evil magicians.

Why are there so many demons roaming the London streets, and can Spencer and Bart stop them before it’s too late?

Who are the mysterious Tappers, and what are they doing with the women they abduct from the streets?

Can Spencer and Bart change the habits of a lifetime and not only stay on the right side of the law, but also save the day?

The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency is the new novel from Peter Oxley, the author of the Infernal Aether series. If you like dark gothic adventures with a light-hearted twist, then you’ll love The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency.

The Great Big Demon Hunting Agency by Peter Oxley is expected out March 2nd, 2023 from Burning Chair.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like the description, especially when it says "dark gothic adventure with a light-hearted twist." And I'm wondering why there are so many demons roaming the streets of London. I want to know if our "heroes" will prevail.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #446: Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

In this spellbinding debut novel, two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family’s library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection—a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power.

For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements—books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.

All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna’s isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .

In the great tradition of Ninth House, The Magicians, and Practical Magic, this is a suspenseful and richly atmospheric novel that draws readers into a vast world filled with mystery and magic, romance, and intrigue—and marks the debut of an extraordinary new voice in speculative fiction.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emily Torzs is expected to be releaseed June 27th, 2023 from William Morrow.

 Why am I waiting on this book? I love books about books. Add magic and libraries and it increases my interest. I'm eager to check out this "new voice in speculative fiction."

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Happy Book Birthday to Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

 

Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones is released today from St. Martin's Press.

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

Compulsively readable, laugh-out-loud funny, and brimming with big-hearted characters, A Hard Day for a Hangover will have readers cheering to the very last page.

This is the third and final book in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. I've just started this book and I'm already enjoying it. Darynda Jones has a way of blending humor, mystery, and a touch of romance that is wonderful.

Have you been looking forward to this book?