When Dragons Fly

Rachel Hartman creates a world rich in magical fantasy. Dragons are a key part of society working side by side with humans. Yet mixed race offspring are a deadly secret to be kept hidden at any cost. Seraphina is a new member of the royal court and a gifted musician. When a member of the royal family is murdered Seraphina helps investigate.

Prince Lucien complicates her choices as she grows to like him more than she should. The 40 year peace between dragons and humans is threatened. This is a story that young and old fantasy readers should enjoy.

Deadly Empire

Miriam Forster offers a prequel to her popular City Of A Thousand Gods that answers many questions from her first novel but it also stands alone. Here heroine Mara is a body guard, a choice she made to atone for her actions. She was cast out from her family and trained into an elite group the Order of Khatar who protect others.

She soon guards a noble girl in the capitol of the empire. Yet the Imperial city is more dangerous than she bargained for and her friends try to protect her from danger. In this city lies are currency and a deadly plot is being unleashed that will shake the society to the core. Mara will need skills she learned in her village as well as those of a bodyguard. This is an epic fantasy that will keep you enrapt.

Modern Day Druid

Kevin Hearne’s first novel in the Iron Druid Chronicles offered a great read. Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,000 year old druid, has a bunch of enemies ready to end his days. Aenghus Og, the Celtic god of love, is after him and his partner Oberon, an Irish wolfhound.

Being last of the Druids, makes it tough to live peacefully in Arizona, hiding by running an occult bookshop.  He’ll travel in the desert and through mythical lands making additional enemies an a few new friends along the way.

Better Than Take Out

The Three Sisters Quick & Easy Indian Cookbook: Flavors And Spices Of India by Sereena Kaul offers us delicious and authentic recipes for home.

These three sisters bring over 60 traditional recipes to serve simply and quickly. There are speedy one-pot curries, Indian street food, snacks, chutneys, desserts and more.  All were inspired by their mother’s and grandmother’s recipes  So many delicious meals easy and quick. Why even think of take out?

The Sultan’s Seal Of Murder

Jenny B. White has penned a rich first novel. With the death of a young Englishwoman who has a pendant with the seal of the deposed sultan a mystery unfolds. It mirrors back to an older, unsolved murder of another English governess.

Istanbul at the end of the Ottoman empire is the exotic backdrop.  of another English governess, a crime that was never solved. Magistrate Kamil Pasha strives to find the killer.  He is unsure if these are political murders involving the palace or a more personal matter of passion.  The main character to captivate us is 19th century Turkey.

Sorcery Of A Wintery Kind

Catherine Fisher is the bestselling author of The Oracle Prophecies trilogy and this epic fantasy is another winner. The story was originally published in Britain as three short stories. A mysterious Snow-walker from the edge of the world marries into the throne and rules her new people with fear and evil sorcery. Jarl and his friends must risk everything to defeat Gundrun.

The story pays homage to Beowulf, and Celtic and Norse tales mixing the hero’s journey and a coming of age tale for a band of unlikely heroes.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama has big shoes to fill when her mother is a preternatural and her father is a werewolf pack leader. Her adopted father is a vampire. So in an alternate version of England she is set to embark in her first solo voyage to India via dirigible with trouble soon to follow.

She will rely on her metanatural abilities — and the help of her family of friends to solve a mysterious kidnapping without missing a drop of tea. Fans of Gail Carriger will find the humor in her earlier series here parlayed for a younger generation.

Books Could Be Dangerous

Voices by Ursula K LeGuin weaves magic and duty into the fictional world of Ansul. It’s a city conquered and shackled by regulations where reading and writing are crimes punishable by death. Hidden behind the safety of walls in a once prosperous home, Memer comes to cherish books and must find her own brand of courage – one that will be tested.

For someone raised to be obedient and to find safety in quiet ways, the life of a rebel is not a choice easily made. A visiting poet and his wife shake things up and offer Memer a chance to try on a disguise and see another side of city life.

LeGuin delivers again another wonderful coming of age fantasy.

Bringing the Memories Home with The Artisan Jewish Deli

The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home with Nick Zukin and Michael Zusman. Memories of my first meal at a Jewish Deli came flooding back as I turned each page. A now long closes deli was home to my first Reuben sandwich and all the other delicacies. One of my best college roommates introduced me to Matzo Brei and Chicken Liver pate – two of my all time favorites. A Sweet Noodle Kugel was a guarded family recipe of another friend but no more since that too is represented within this delightful book.

Enjoy this wonderful mini history of some awesome delis and recipes that are making me quite hungry. This is a keeper. Go out and get your copy.

 

Not Quite Under

Under A Spell by Hannah Jayne. I jumped in and read a book in the middle of a series. That’s not always a good idea but again the cover was intriguing. Decades ago I went to an all girl school with a similar plaid – albeit we did wear the buttoned up blouses and navy sweaters with the standard knee socks – although nothing suggestive in that attire.

My humble opinion is that the book was unbalanced in that it had many nice scenes and characters but felt rushed in several places and repetitive in others. As a mystery, the reveal was not satisfying. Another round of edits would’ve greatly improved things. I’ve included it since I feel the series may have a nice, loyal following – just not perhaps with as many fellow writers. I liked the premise of a paranormal agency and which is similar to a very popular book I’ve reviewed last year. I may read the next installment to see how things progress.