Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

 In this second installment of the Emily Wilde series, Emily has obtained tenure at Cambridge and is using the resources there to try to find a nexus, a place that might have a kind of backdoor to Wendell's realm.  On Wendell's birthday, his stepmother and the usurper of Wendell's realm, sends fairy assassins.  Luckily Emily has found a probable location for the nexus and they jump on the train and head toward the Austrian Alps. They reluctantly take with them Emily's niece and research assistant, Ariadne, and the prickly department chair of druidology, Doctor Rose. As the search for the nexus progresses, Wendell becomes progressively ill until they realize that he is suffering from slow acting poison. Emily must race against time and made odd alliances in order enter Wendell's realm in search for a cure. 

I enjoyed the first in this series and I enjoyed this one as well. Fawcett has such fun world building and has populated the story with a dazzling array of mythical creatures. Fawcett has clearly done research about local folklore in Europe as many of the traditions she mentions are historically accurate as well as being imaginative and amusing. Emily's asp-y personality is the perfect foil for Wendell's blasé aristocracy. Ariadne's and Dr Rose' personalities are also well developed and entertaining. This is a fun choice for teen or adult fantasy readers. (2024, 386 p.)

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

 John Green's book, The Fault in Our Stars, and his subsequent books made him a very wealthy man.  He decided to use some of his wealth to do good. He began campaigning for better health care in Africa, and one time while he was visiting Sierra Leone, he met a young patient in a tuberculosis hospital named Henry.  The young man was pleasant and charming, and Green was instantly taken with him. That motivated Green to investigate why tuberculosis, which is preventable and treatable, is still one of the deadliest diseases in the world, killing over a million people every year.  As he researched he discovered that tuberculosis has influenced history in unexpected ways for centuries.  It was connected to the beginning of WWI and the settlement of New Mexico. TB patients in the 1800's were considered glamorous and some thought TB gave suffering artists greater creativity. Now that a cure has been found for the disease, only groups of people too poor to afford the complex treatment involving multiple antibiotics still die from the disease. Green's research caused him to face the sobering truth that prejudice and privilege are the main causes of TB deaths in the world. 

This book caught my attention, not only because of the fame of the author, but because I had my own brush with TB when I was a child. I never contracted the disease, but was identified as a carrier when I was in first grade and went through a year of treatment which included taking pills and getting chest x-rays to prevent me from either developing TB symptoms or passing the disease to others. It was interesting to compare my experience with TB treatment to the experiences of people in developing countries discussed in the book. Green is an engaging writer and the book is very interesting.  I know a nonfiction book is good when I repeatedly tell my husband about it during dinner or when we are out driving. Readers should be aware that Green is no unbiased historian. His purpose is to promote more equitable health care for all people.  I hope his book fulfills his hopes. (2025, 198 p.)

Circle of Spies by Roseanna M White

In this third installment of the Culper Ring Series, Marietta Hughes is a young widow who can't wait to get out of mourning so she can marry her diseased husband's brother.  She is a mistress of society, and an accomplished flirt. The Civil War is nearing it's end, and even though she married a southerner, her parents and grandparents are part of a spy ring that is trying to protect President Lincoln. When rumors fly that a secret Confederate society is plotting his assassination, and that Marietta's brother in-law/fiance is behind the plot, Marietta starts seeing a new side to both her beloved, and herself. Slade Osborne is a Pinkerton who has been tasked with doing a deep infiltration of the organization that is plotting against the President.  As he becomes a confidente of Marietta's soon-to-be-fiancé, he is tasked with being Marietta's body guard.  As they are thrown together, both Marietta and Slade discover that each is more than they seem, and that together they are both better and stronger than they were alone.

I guess I have been reading a lot of Roseanna M. White lately.  This series has been interesting and fun, but suffers a little from the same things I complained about in her fantasy series.  She spends too much time with her main characters just talking, kissing, and telling each other how wonderful they are.  Of course the books need romantic scenes, (they are romances after all) but I think Ms White could get by with about half the number of tete-a-tete scenes than she writes.  I think it is partially due to her editor.  Ms. White has become successful enough that her editor doesn't feel like she should be strict with her.  But she should.  Even the best writers need a strong editor! This book was enjoyable enough, but it could have gone from a B to a B+ with the right editor. (368 p. 2014)

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

At the beginning of the book, Sybil Van Antwerp is a 72 year old retired law clerk. She is divorced, lives alone, and write letters as a way of organizing her life and relationships. The book is a collection of the letters written to and from a wide variety of people, from her children and friends, to famous authors and statesmen. The letters unfold her life and through them the reader begins to see that even though Ms Van Antwerp seems strong and put together on the outside, inside her soul is plagued by  wounds so deep she feels incapable of facing them. Over the course of the next six years, people come into her life, friends speak the hard truth to her, she is able to help someone she once harmed, and finally claims the full life that had ever before been denied to her. 

I can't remember who recommended this book to me, but I want to thank them.  There is a reason that this book has sold over 2 million copies in one year and is on almost everyone's award list.  It is lovely and sweet. It makes the reader want to go out and reconcile with an estranged friend, or write a letter to a family member.  It is especially appropriate for older readers, and gives hope that even in the later years, wrongs can be righted, and there is hope for a fuller life.  I expected the author to be older, but she is only 40.  I don't know how she had such insight into the emotional journey of aging. Anyway, if I ever meet her, I will shake her hand. (304 p. 2025)

Fathomed: Awakened Mer Novellas by Roseanne M White

 This is a collection of three novellas set in Ms White's Awakened Mer world. Each tells the love story of characters mentioned in the longer novels. 

In Captivated, we learn the story of King Seidon's parents. Brenn is being pressured to take over the kingdom of Daryatla but feel insecure about her new roll.  She goes to visit her cousin who rules the Mer People.  When she arrives she discovers that the kingdom under the sea is in the middle of a coup.  She must escape with the help of an old love interest, Atlas. Can their flame reignite in the midst of war?

Celebrated is a Christmas novella where Electra has been ruling in the undersea kingdom for decades. Over that time she struck up a deep friendship with Arden and Seidon's High Gardian, Ryder Mallow.  They have gotten into the habit of escaping the holiday celebrations early to talk and enjoy the view of the ocean depths together.  But as their friendship turns to love, they can't see how they can be together.  Ryder can't leave the Daryatlians, and Electra needs to rule the mer people. Only a holiday miracle could tear down the walls that keep them apart. 

Consecrated is the longest of the novellas, almost long enough to be a stand-alone novel.  In it we are introduced to the desert kingdom of Soltierra which is a matriarchy, and its brother kingdom of the Calm Water Mermen. Lucianna is the crown princess of Soltierra, but struggles to perform her magical responsibilities of directing underground water to the surface to water their oasis in the desert.  Koa is the leader of the Calm Water Mer that we met in an earlier story.  He despairs of ever meeting someone who is his equal to help him rule is tenuous kingdom.  When Lucianna comes in her mother's place to an annual ceremony with the Calm Water Mer, sparks fly between the two leaders, but can Lucianna ever leave her kingdom to be with the man she has grown to love under the sea. 

All three stories have the same basic plot.  There is a lonely monarch, an unlikely match, and a happy ending.  It was mildly satisfying to see the backstory of some of the characters in the full length novels.  All are very religious like the series as a whole but the holiday one was particularly cheesy. It is literary candy but I enjoyed them. I checked them out for a vacation read, and it was just right for the airplane and hotel room. (312 p. 2026)

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

 In this 5th installment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy has finally turned 16 and his time has come for the final battle between the Titans and the Olympians.  As the Olympians battle Typhon as he advances across the country laying waste to all in his path, Percy and Annabeth fear that his tirade is only a distraction.  It is up to the half bloods to defend Olympus in New York City.  Meanwhile the great prophecy hangs over Percy's head. One decision will decide the outcome of the battle, but which decision?  Can the future of the known world really lie in his adolescent hands?

During this series, Riordan has spun out so many plot threads, that he spends the entire book reeling them in.  To his credit, he does an admirable job of it while still making the plot engaging, the action scenes exciting, and occasionally injecting some major doses of humor. He really is a great writer, and I remember, back when this series was first coming out, when the circulation of the Percy Jackson books outstripped the Harry Potter Books.  I wonder why there has only been the two Netflix series based on the books.  Now that the kids that grew up with the series are in their 30s, maybe some movie company will pick them up and do a major series of movies on them. (2009, 400 p)

Aflame by Roseanna M. White

 Princess Valkyrja is considered merely ornamental.  She does not have the control over her blessed gift that her brother, the heir, and her sister, her greatest critic, have. Her father, the king of Fjordlandi depends on his two oldest children to maintain the order in the kingdom that makes the Fjordlandians the ruling class, and the Thanes, the peasant class. He also oppresses a hidden element of the community, the Daemons, whom he enslaves to control the geothermal forces below his kingdom. The king's carefully constructed hierarchy is literally blown apart by a terrorist bomb, and Valkyria finds herself as the new heir. In the aftermath of the explosion, she becomes acquainted with a Thane, Nick, who is a believer in The One. He begins to teach Valkyrja the faith that has been forbidden by her father, and she comes to see that her father, whose approval she always sought and never attained, was really a tyrant. Can she, the weakest of the royals, find the strength to undo all the wrongs her family had committed for centuries?  Not without her new friends, and her new faith.

This is the second in the series that began with the Awakened.  It occurs in the same world as the first book, but 150 years later.  None of the characters from the first book play an active role in this one, though the characters refer to them at times. This book had some of the same problems that I complained about in the first book.  The alpha-couple spend an inordinate amount of time encouraging each other. The religious elements are really heavy handed. And yet, by the end, I have to admit I was into the story.  The final action sequence was intense, and the final resolution satisfying. White also included hints for what the next in the series will be.  I will probably read it. (338 p. 2026)

Great Courses: Effective Editing by Molly McCowan

 An essential part of becoming a good writer is embracing the process of editing what you write.  In this 13-lesson course, Ms McCowan walks the listener through the different kinds of editing, and discusses each in detail. She emphasizes the importance of doing the editing process in the correct order, from big picture to granular, and gives helpful instructions and examples of each stage. She ends the series with a class on "what's next" which explains what to do with your manuscript after you have done all the editing you can do.

I am currently writing a short children's novel for my grandchildren, and decided to listen to this course to give me suggestions about my editing process. It was super helpful and it made me want to go back and edit some of the similar novella that I have written for them in the past.  I think a lot of her advise is conventional wisdom and would be familiar to anyone who was serious about writing, but for me, who  has never had a creative writing class, it was really good information given in an accessible format. I am planning on listening through it again next time I am about to start an writing project. (5 hrs. 2021)

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

 Kelsey Worthington, an aspiring editor living in New York, wakes up one day in the hospital.  She had been hit by a car while on the sidewalk, and had a concussion. While in the hospital she meets another patient, Georgia Tate, a cosmetics mogul. Ms Tate is facing kidney failure.  Ms Tate is brusque and abrasive, but when Kelsey leaves the hospital and returns to her hum-drum job, she keeps feeling that she needs a vacation and that she is fated to take Ms Tate with her. That begins the summer of "Yes." Kelsey is determined that she and Ms Tate are supposed to really live life by saying "yes" to all the things they were too afraid to try before.  As they spend time together, Kelsey comes to realize that much of Ms Tate's off-putting behavior is due to regrets related to her family, a family that includes a very handsome and very nice estranged son, who is just Kelsey's age. Perhaps,  along with saying yes to sea food, and road trips, she will also be brave enough to say yes to love.

One of my co-workers recommended this book when she found out that I enjoy clean romance.  This totally fits into that category, but it also has a strong message about the importance of overcoming fear to live life to its fullness. The relationship between Kelsey and Ms Tate reminds me a lot of the relationship in "The Devil Wears Prada," so much so that I can't believe it wasn't one of the author's inspirations. The book suffers a little because Ms Tate's son, the love interest, is just too perfect.  He isn't as bad as the Richard Paul Evans male protagonists, but close. He is incredibly handsome, creative, successful, and volunteers teaching classes to children at the local community center. Authors need to learn that a man doesn't have to be perfect to be loveable. Still, if you are looking for a clean, feel-good read, this isn't a bad choice. (2024, 504 p.)

The Battle for the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

 In this fourth book of the Perseus Jackson series, Percy continues his quest to discover and thwart Kronos' plans to take over Camp Half-Blood, and then Olympus.  Percy and Annabeth discover an entrance into Minos' Labyrinth on Half-Blood Hill. Kronos wants to use it to invade the camp and destroy the demigods before he attacks Olympus. Minos knows that the only way to navigate the Labyrinth is with Ariadne's ball of magic string, and he will stop at nothing to get it.  The Annabeth is called to lead a quest to enter the Labyrinth, fine to Daedalus, and convince him not to help Kronos. If they can help Grover in his search for Pan, and save Nico from the evil influences of the underworld, all the better.

I read this years ago when it first came out, but had forgotten a lot of it. I enjoyed listening to it again and being reminded why these books areso successful. Riordan is so good at creating a fun world that blends the modern with the ancient, and characters that are really endearing. He also has a great blend of action and humor and I found myself laughing out loud several times during the book. If you haven't read them in a while, this series is worth a re-visit (400 p. 2008)

The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander

 Lucian is an accountant in a palace in ancient Greece. When he discovers that the of the king's overseers have been cheating the king out of great amounts of money, he knows he must flee or they will kill him.  In his flight he meets up with a donkey, who is really a poet that has been enchanted.  The donkey, Fronto, helps Lucian escape and together they start an epic journey to try to get Fronto restored to his human form.  On the way they meet a young prophetess of the Lady of Nature who is being hunted by the evil king. She believes that the Lady will be able to restore the donkey's true form. As they journey together they encounter many peoples and survive many harrowing adventures. 

I have long been a fan of Lloyd Alexander, but had never read this book.  It was published in the 1990's, and I don't think anyone would publish it today. It reads like something written by Tolkien or Lewis, and the plot reminded me a bit of some of the Shakespeare comedies. The writing is lyrical and I enjoyed it very much. I also liked how he mirrored the Greek mythological and epic stories, without copying them exactly.  Parts of the story suggested Odysseus and the Trojan war, but with an folkish tone instead of an epic tone. They are almost like what the original story of the Odyssey might have been before they it was embellished by professional a professional story teller. There were also hints of the story of Hercules, and of Jason. It was fun to be listening along and then realizing, "oh, that is like the story of the Minotaur" or "Oh, they are talking about the siege of Troy." It is very clever.  There was one thing that bothered me and would make me hesitate to recommend the book to a child.  All during the story the donkey is called a "jack ass" and there are a lot of jokes suggesting that Fronto is a jack ass in more than just physical form. I was raised in a home that was conservative enough that we wouldn't have been allowed to use the term "jack ass" so it was unsettling for me to hear it every few lines of the story. (288 p. 1995)

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

 In Satellite City, Cosmo lives in a home where corporations use orphaned boys to do product testing. It is a tortured life, and Cosmo is always looking for a chance to escape. When his chance comes, he is severely injured and left for dead, but is saved by a group of young vigilantes when they discover that he has the same talent to see supernatural creatures as they do. Being part of the "Supernaturalists" is as perilous as the orphanage, but in the group Cosmo feels a sense of family for the first time. Their leader Stefan, is determined to exterminate the "parasites" that killed his mother, but no matter how many of the little green creatures they kill, they seem to reproduce exponentially. When the huge corporations find out about their group, things get so complicated it is hard to decipher right from wrong and the good guys from the bad.

This is a YA Sci-Fi from the author of the Artemis Fowl series. It has very interesting and vivid world building and the characters are delightfully troubled and complex. The plot reminded me a lot of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card but maybe a little less dated. Both Colfer and Card have the ability to aim a magnifying glass on both current social issues and deep philosophical questions and turn them into fast-paced YA fiction. The book ended with an opening for a sequel, but I guess it never happened, though there seems to be a graphic novel version of this book that was published in 2012. (2004, 273 p.)

In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter

 In the early 2000's Derek Baxter was feeling stifled by his job as a lawyer. He had been interested in American History as a student, and was intrigued when he found out about a short book by Thomas Jefferson that was a travel guide for Americans in Europe.  Over the course of 8 years, he and his young family endeavor to recreate some of Jefferson's experiences in Europe by visiting places he went and trying things he did. At first it is fun to go to France's wine country and sample fine wines, or go to England and visit famous gardens, but as Baxter continued to try to better understand Jefferson, he kept running into the fact that, although Jefferson was a champion of liberty, he depended on enslaved workers to maintain his lifestyle. This book is a record of the Baxter families effort to not only come to know Jefferson, but also learn more about the people who were robbed of their freedom so that Jefferson could become a famous founding father. 

Here is another book on the America 250 list.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  The writing is candid and engaging. Some of Baxter's adventures in Europe are fun and funny. When he has to wrestle with the stark reality of Jefferson's shortcomings, instead of flinching, he leans into it and accepts the challenge of taking on tough issues. I love that he includes his children in his wrestle as they visit the slave quarters at Monticello and learn about Jefferson's children with Sally Hemmings. I think the book is a good model for white people to start to be aware--and help their children be aware--of the role that enslaved workers played in the early history of the United States. (416 p. 2022) 

Whispers from the Shadows by Roseanna M. White

 Lady Gwyneth Fairchild is forced to flee England when her father is betrayed.  Anticipating the attack, her father, a general, arranges for her to travel to America to say with the Lane family in Maryland. Gwyneth is confused by the decision, since the British are currently at war with the Americans. Thad Lane finds Gwyneth a broken woman, haunted by her family tragedy and fearful that the perpetrator with seek out and kill her next. He treats her gently, and with time she begins to feel safety in his presence. As they grow closer she begins to realize that Thad and his parents are not what they seem on the surface.  As the War of 1812 approaches their doorstep, Gwyneth has to decide where her true loyalties lie.

This is the second in the Culper Ring Series. I read the first back in 2024, and liked it, so I am not sure why I waited so long to read this one. I enjoyed it as well.  Gwyneth is the most broken of any of White's heroines I have read so far and she does a good job of portraying her trauma.  Thad is a wonderfully solid counterweight to her brokenness. I also enjoyed how White incorporates Gwyneth's drawing as a tool of healing and also as an apt plot device. I have recently read a book about the war of 1812, so was happy to see that White grounded the story within real historical events. As in the first book, the Christian elements are a little heavy handed, and the cover is similarly lame, but I can handle that. (352 p. 2013)

Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

 Grace Mallory escaped to Harper's Station after watching her father get gunned down because he had found a will that would destroy the fortune of a wealthy mine owner. Now Grace is the keeper of the deadly will and keeps a low profile as a telegraph operator in the all woman settlement. Her one male social interaction is with another operator whose identification letter is A. Amos Bledsoe has more brains than brawn and favors a fastidious suit and tie to buckskin. He is enchanted with his last evening conversations with the operator from Harper's Station. Even though he doesn't know her age, appearance, or even her name, operator M has captured his interest with her wit and intelligence.  Then one day, while they are conversing, Mallory receives a warning from another station that the man who killed her father has found out where she lives. Amos jumps into action travels to Harper's Station and is quickly arrested by the settlement's marshal, and only permanent male resident. He quickly establishes that he is Grace's telegraph pen pal and they put their considerable brain power together to try stop the man who will do anything to keep the will from getting to the estate lawyers. 

This is the second in the series that started with No Other Would Do.  I have read a bunch of Witemeyer's Texas romances, and it was refreshing to experience one where the hero isn't a tall, strong, silent cowboy. Amos wears glasses and rides a bicycle instead of a horse. I am glad that Witemeyer acknowledges that a man doesn't have to be high-testosterone to be attractive. Amos and Grace are an adorable couple, both pushing against their own timidity and reserve to be the hero the other needs. If you are a Witemeyer fan like I am this is certainly one you won't want to miss. (2017, 336 p) 

Unraveled by Julie Daines

 Bronwyn tries to avoid the stares and repulsion she sees in other's faces when they see her crippled legs. One day a fey creature called a gray lady comes to visit her and gives her a pair of shoes that make her legs straighten and appear whole. Her mother is so excited she arranges for her daughter to go to the capital city to be presented at court. At court she meets the handsome prince who is instantly taken by her beauty.  She also meets and old friend who knows she is normally crippled. He tries to discourage Bronwyn from accepting the Prince's advances, warning her that she can't keep her secret from the Prince forever,  but who can resist being courted by the most eligible man of the kingdom? Perhaps if the Prince comes to love her enough, he won't mind when he finds out she is not what she seems. Perhaps.

I need to look back at the other books I have read by Daines.  I must have liked them because I put her on my "clean romance writers" list.  This one, however, I could barely get through.  I almost quit several times, and only made it through so I could write this review and say how much I disliked the story. Bronwyn is a stupid, silly girl who keeps making bad decisions. She keeps stacking lies on lies even when she knows that once she tells the prince the truth it wouldn't go well. She is also not very nice to her other friends.  She lets them suffer so she can continue to enjoy her royal suitor's attentions and she's rude to everyone who is trying to help her. I think the premise of the story could have worked if she had tried to come clean earlier in the story but have been trapped into the lie by other circumstances, but she keeps coming back to a bad situation even after she has a chance to escape. I know stupidity is pretty common in the world, but I personally never want to read it. (192 p. 2014)

Sticks and Stones by Sarah Mlynowski, Laren Myracle and Emily Jenkins.

 In this second book in the Upside Down Magic series, things seem to be looking up for Nory.  She and Bax start having tutoring sessions with the Kitten Ball coach, and he recruits Nory for the team. She starts to make friends with some kids at school not in the Mixed-up Magic class. Meanwhile, strange rock centered magic keeps happening at the school, and everyone blames Bax. Bax knows he didn't do it, so the Mixed-up Magic kids work together to try to find out what is really happening.

I read the second book in this series because I wondered if it had the "Shadow" magic that shows up in the Net Flix series.  It doesn't. I think the Shadow Magic is a "made for TV" addition, to make the story more visually interesting. I enjoyed the book, though. There is a lot of humor, but also a few things to think about. It is a cute series for early novel readers. (208p., 2016)

Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

 Hannah Swenson is busy whipping up treats for the county fair when she is asked to be a judge in the baked goods competition. She enjoys the challenge, but then one of the other judges ends up getting murdered.  Hannah can't resist getting involved in the investigation, even when her handsome police officer friend warns her away.  Her attentive dentist friend has fewer qualms and together with her sisters and mother, they try to discover the culprit. 

After reading the last Vampire Book Club I wanted to read book from the same genre that was better written.  The Hannah Swenson cozy mysteries are not great literature but they are certainly better than the Vampire Book Club series. There are actual clues and suspects that Hannah investigates with the help of family and friends. Of course, the final scene finds Hannah in mortal danger from which she is saved by one of her boyfriends. It is formulaic, but a fun read. (384 p. 2011)

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown

 In 1942 there is a vibrant community in the Bethnal Green neighborhood of London despite the war and frequent bombing. When the bomb sirens go off Nellie, age 18 and her family go into the yet unfinished tube station which has been converted into a bomb shelter. One of her best friends, Billy is a air raid warden, and her other best friend is Billy's sister.  Billy would like a more serious relationship with Nellie, but his hopes are shattered when Nellie meets a handsome American airman, Ray. As their relationship progresses, Ray gives Nellie hope of fulfilling her dream to leave Bethnal Green and see the bigger world. But then a terrible tragedy strikes. Nellie is left reexamining her relationships and ambitions. With all that the war has taken from her, will Nellie every have the chance for a happy life?

This is a charming and heartfelt historical fiction based on an actual event in the history of London's WWII days.  It is written and read by Millie, Bobby Brown, the actress who played Enola Holmes on Netflix, and also stared in Stranger Things. You always wonder if a book by a celebrity author will be any good, but this one was.  The writing isn't going to win a Pulitzer, but it was good enough.  The story deals grief and loss during war times, but emphasizes that love and community is what gets you through tragedy. Brown states that the story is "inspired" by her own great grandmother's experience, but doesn't go into detail about how much of the story is biographical. I think that probably her grandmother was in the tragic experience featured in the book, but I am guessing the rest is fiction. I am also guessing that a ghost writer helped Brown with the prose.  Still, this is a book I will be recommending to my friends who like WWII fiction. (320 p. 2023)

In Want of a Knife by Nancy Warren

 In this fifth installment of the Vampire Book Club series, a movie producer has come to Ballydehag wanting to make a porno version of Pride and Prejudice. At the same time Jane Austen, now one of the undead, shows up in town and asks for help to stop the production. Quinn Callahan is at first start-struck by meeting her favorite author and determined to help her any way she can, but when the producer of the film turns up dead, can she be sure that her literary idol was not the killer?  Of course there are other suspects and motives, and it takes all Quinn's supernatural friend's help to discover the truth.

I keep reading these, and they just aren't very good. I knew who the killer was going to be in the first chapter, but the author didn't have Quinn even consider the true culprit until the last two chapters.  It was an entire book of red herrings. The only redeeming quality about books in this series is that listening to them takes absolutely not emotional or intellectual effort on my part. It is about as engaging as elevator music in a department store.  Still, sometimes that is exactly what I am looking for in a book, so I will probably read more. (226 p. 2023)

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

I was a little disappointed by the 
cover.  She is supposed to be 
more plump than this. 

 Zacharias Hamilton is happy to be free from family responsibilities. He has a good job, a good friend, and good sticky buns for breakfast each morning. When his favorite female baker's shop is threatened, the only way to save it is for her to get married, and Zach can't imagine her marrying anyone but him. In Abigail Kemp's mind, the marriage is just a business deal, allowing her to keep her bakery, and giving Zach free room and board. She considers herself--plump and independent--as not worthy of the romantic attentions of a tall, strong, handsome man like Zach. He sees it differently. It doesn't take long before convincing her to be his wife in reality is his highest priority, but first he needs to find out who is trying to ruin Abby's life, and stop them.

It is a common trope in historical romance, for a couple to get married first and then gradually fall in love.  It is a sweet theme and Witemeyer does it well here. There is good chemistry between Zach, the strong silent type, and Abby, who is delightful, but doesn't know it. One thing I appreciate about Witemeyer, is that when the main characters have a misunderstanding she doesn't let it draw out for chapters and chapters.  They resolve it quickly by actually talking to each other, and most the the time is spent with them confronting exterior threats together rather than bickering between themselves. If you had told me 10 years ago if I would be a regular reader of Texas cowboy historical romances, I wouldn't have believed you.  But, there it is. (358 p. 2019)

A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber

 This is the fourth in the Lady Darby Mystery series. Lady Kiera Darby is preparing for her upcoming marriage to inspector Sebastian Gage. The wedding preparations are stressful, as is her commission to paint a portrait of Lady Drummond. She suspects that Lady Drummond is the victim of spouse abuse, but doesn't know what she can do about it. Then Lady Drummond is found dead in her home. The physician rules her death as natural, but Lady Darby suspects that she was murder. Her husband's family is not pleased as she jumps into the case, trying to find justice for her fallen friend. When the number of possible suspects grows, so does the tension between herself and Sebastian. Is she willing to pursue the case to the end, even if it costs her own future happiness?

This is another well crafted mystery by Ms. Huber.  She is good at creating both clues and red herrings so that the final solution is not obvious.  The relationship between Kiera and Sebastian vacillates between being steamy and cold.  I guess the author has to write it this way to maintain a dramatic tension, but it made me feel a little frustrated. If they can't even get along while they are engaged and still enjoying the first flower of their amore, how will they ever survive marriage?  Still, it was entertaining enough that I finished it, even though I was reading it instead of just listening to it (I checked out the print version to take on a vacation.)  (336 p. 2015)

Upside Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins

 Nory's father is the head master of a very prestigious magic school, and her older brother and sister are both star students in the school.  When it comes time for Nory take the qualifying test for the school, she fails dramatically. Her embarrassed father arranges for her to go to a different school where they have a program for kids whose magic is "upside down." There Nory finds friends and an emotionally supportive teacher but still longs to be normal and able to go home and be with her family again.  She and one of her newfound friends create a scheme that will allow them to test out of the special class, but it requires her to box up most of her inner life in order to fit in.

I checked out this book because Netfix has a new series based on it.  I remember it being fairly popular when it fist came out. I also noticed it on the Pride Month book list in June.  It is a short book for primary grade readers, but I can see why it would be on an LGBTQ list, even though it never mentions gender identity. It is all about the social pressure to be "normal" and how it encourages children to deny their real self. It is a good message for anyone who feels different, not just those with gender identity issues. The same yearning to be socially acceptable drove me to anorexia at about the same age as the Nory character. The writing is good and there are plenty of humorous scenes where Nory and the other kids in her class try to control their as-of-yet-uncontrolled magic. I think a lot of 3rd and 4th grade kids would enjoy it. (208 p. 2016) 

Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes

Orphaned as a teen, Matthew raised himself and his younger sister in the stables of a race horse farm where he found work as a stable hand. When WWI begins, Matthew enlists, and his sister become nurse. Both end up in France where Matthew's commander recognizes in him the qualities of a true leader.  They are in trenches near the Argonne forest, where Mireilles had always lived with her father and grandfather.  When the war encroaches on Mireilles sheltered life, Matthew and his band rescue her right before she falls behind enemy lines.  In a rare moment of sentimentality, their commander allows Matthew and two companions to escort Mireilles and the important documents she holds, to Paris where Mireilles might have relatives. On the way, shared joys and trials bond them in ways that nothing but a war, hard fought, can. 

Here is yet another historical fiction by Amanda Dykes.  The style of the writing and general tone is the same as her other books. It is perhaps a bit more somber because of the backdrop of WWII but Dykes manages to balance the darkness of war with the hope of faith and friendship. Dykes clearly did a lot of research to get the setting of the novel authentic. The characters are well drawn (and well read by the narrator) and each makes their own journey of self-discovery. At one point Dykes leads the reader to believe that one of the main characters has died, but since I had read her other books I was pretty sure she would pull out a happy ending.  I will be reading more from Dykes, but I need a rest from the thickly layered emotions of her literary style. (368 p. 2021)

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes

 Mercy Windsor has fled Hollywood because of a scandal not of her making and runs to the only place she felt she might belong. She knows her best friend doesn't live there anymore, having suffered a tragic early death, but she still hopes the secluded Colorado mining town will still give her needed seclusion. When her friend, Rusty Bright, was still alive, they had sworn to each other that together they would try to find a lost treasure rumored to be in the hills surrounding the town.  Mercy is determined to fulfill their dream and use the money to help the struggling town that Rusty had loved so much. Mercy doesn't expect the warm welcome and support of the townspeople that help her discover something more valuable than any hidden treasure.

Since I enjoyed the book All the Lost Places by the same author, I decided to try another. I ended up liking this as well, so I have added Ms Dykes to my illustrious "Clean Romance Writers" list. The book has plenty of heart break but it primarily hopeful. I guess I wouldn't call it a romance, since the primary relationship is between the two friends, but there is a nice secondary romance that adds a dollop of sweetness.  Like the Lost Places book, this book jumps back and forth between time periods, the past  being primarily represented by excerpts between the pen pal letters written between Rusty and Mercy. Rusty has an indominable personality that is fun to read.  Another fun thing about the book is that we get to see a cameo of Victoria and Daniel from the Lost Places book. They don't play a role in the plot, but just step in and take a brief bow.  (384 p. 2024)

A Full Life by Jimmy Carter

 Jimmy Carter was born in 1924 in Plains Georgia.  His parents were poor land owners and he grew up in a small community where most of his neighbors were black sharecroppers. They lived humbly without either running water or electricity.  From those humble beginnings Carter's intelligence and work ethics helped him attend college and later be appointed to the United States Naval Academy. After graduation he went through specialized training to serve on submarines, and eventually rose to become a major player in the development and testing of the first nuclear submarines.  When his father died, he left the military and took his young family back to Georgia to take over the running of his father's interests which included both farming, and the distribution of farming supplies and seed to other farmers. He got involved with politics as a champion of civil rights, and eventually was elected of Governor of Georgia. He was so successful in cleaning waist and corruption in Georgia that leaders of the Democratic Party urged him to run for President. He won the election and served for one term.  After being defeated by Ronald Regan in 1981, he spent the rest of his life working for political causes through the Carter  Foundation which sought world wide democracy and improvement of civil rights and economic equity.  

Here is another book from the US 250 celebration list.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It is read by the author and listening the the book felt like I had been invited to his home and allowed to sit while he told stories about his life. I have kept journals since I was 12 years old and the first entry in my very first journal stated that Jimmy Carter had won the election, and that my mother said, because of that, we should get our food storage up to date since there was likely to be a war. My parents were staunch Republicans, so I didn't really have a great opinion of his presidency.  Listening to the stories in the book, however, I feel like he was one of the most moral of the US presidents. He was devoutly Christian and let his religious faith guide his decisions in office. His presidency has not been seen as one of the best in history, but the way he comported himself is so strikingly different from some current politicians, it made me nostalgic for days gone by.  This book is a good choice for those in my demographic who are interested in US political history, but also for those who want to read about someone who tried his whole life to do the right thing. (2015, 272 p) 

Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

When most middle and upper class people die, they leave tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars for others to inherit. Most Americans believe that saving for retirement is so important that when they get to retirement age, they don't know how to stop saving and start spending.  In this book, Perkins makes a case for trying to live your life intentionally so that you use your money to enrich your life long before you get too old to really enjoy it. He encourages people to think about their lives in "buckets" of time and imagine what they can and cannot do in each bucket.  Then they should decide what they would like to experience in their life and which bucket it would best fit in. That might mean putting less in your 401 k during your 30's and 40's so you can have experiences while you are young you wouldn't be able to have when you are older, or taking a month off in your 30's to hike the Andes. He also encourages readers to think about bestowing inheritance money to family and causes earlier, when they really need it, instead of waiting until you die. He suggests that if we live into our 80's or 90's our kids will be old enough and well established in their careers so that what they inherit from us at death won't have a lot of impact.

My sister recommended to me that I read this book while we were talking about cash flow now that I am no longer working full time.  I told her my husband and I had to be financially conservative until we reach 65 and start collecting pensions and social security.  This book certainly counters that idea and Perkins makes a convincing argument. That said, in the book he over-simplifies things a little too much in places. For example he talks about estimating how much money you will need each year for the rest of your expected life span.  In his example calculation he doesn't adjust for inflation, but inflation is a very important thing to think about.  I may be able to live comfortably on $80,000/year now, but will I be able to in 20 years? Not likely. In order for your money to keep up with inflation most of it needs to be in an account that makes enough interest to keep up with inflation. If you spend it all in your 30's or 40's, there is nothing there to make interest. Still, he gave me something to think about and I think I will be more daring about spending money on experiences now that I have read the book. (240 p. 2021)

The Forever Man, by Eoin Colfer

 In this final episode of the W.A.R.P. series, Chevie Sevano is just getting used to being are in Victorian England with Riley, when they come face to face with Riley's old master, the evil Albert Garrick who has returned from the temporal wormhole with amazing powers.  All three of them are sucked back into the wormhole and are spit out in the 1600's. Garrick has been to this time period before, and had styled himself as a witch hunter.  Upon arrive, Garrick proclaims Chevie as a witch and Riley as her familiar.  The population of the small town are after them, but luckily, or unluckily, they are not the only ones to have traveled in the temporal divide. It takes a lot of skill, wits, and help from new friends, to escape the the transformed Garrick, the Forever Man, and save the world from an increasingly unstable temporal rift. 

I was a little unsure of this series when I read the first one, but Colfer does a great job in this book of tying everything up into a satisfactory ending. I was really impressed. Over the first two books he threw out a lot of threads, and I wondered if he could manage to gather them up again, but he did.  The book has Colfer's characteristic exciting action sequences, and a couple of really good plot twists. I still didn't like the writing style as much as the Artemis Fowl books, but I got used to it by the third book.  Overall it is a great middle grade/YA series, especially for those who like his other novels. (368, 2016)

Rapunzel's Gambit by Mary Mecham

Princess Rapunzel is not happy with the way her father is running the kingdom, or her life.  When he promises her hand in marriage to any nobleman who can kill the dragon, she decides she might be better off with the dragon than with her eager suitors. On the last day before she escapes the castle she plays and loses a game of chess with a handsome and diffident squire.  If only her high-born suitors were as handsome and well mannered as he!  When Rapunzel arrives at the Dragon's lair, she proposes that together they could set up a scam to raise money for the poor in the kingdom. They would kidnap the knights that try to rescue her and then send them back only after they pay a hefty ransom. Their scheme works well, and the dragon and Rapunzel establish a genial raport. But Rapunzel can't get the squire, Griffin out of her mind.  He may just be the only person she would be happy spending her life with, but how could a princess marry a squire?

This is an interesting reimagining of the Rapunzel story, with a heavy dose of Beauty and the Beast added in. Rapunzel has a spunky personality and Mecham writes in a bunch of snappy repartee, which is fun.  The story is clearly aimed at teens, as there is a lot of romantic vacillation and raging hormones, though it doesn't really every wander past a PG rating. The one thing that bothered me about the book is that the magic system isn't very well thought out. Magic objects in the Dragon's castle seem to produce limitless supplies of food and luxury items, but at no cost. I may be spoiled by the likes of Brandon Sanderson, but I think if magic produces something, it has to take something as well. Why steal from the wealthy knights to feed the poor, if you can just give them an enchanted table instead that will provide for them all the food they could eat. Despite that, it is a fun read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to the fantasy-loving young people I know. (2025, 248 p)

Triumph by Jeremy Schaap

When Jesse Owens was 13 years old the track coach at his new school, Charles Riley, saw his legs and knew he had the potential to be a great runner. He started coaching him and by the time Jesse was in high school he was breaking world records for his age group. This biography tracks Owens running career, with focus on his performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  Schapp spends almost the whole second half of the book talking about the controversies of that event, focusing on Hitler's attempt to use the games to promote his belief in Aryan superiority, which was totally thwarted by the amazing performances of Owens and his teammates. Owen's life after the Olympics is only covered briefly in an afterward. 

Here is another book offered through Libby for the 250th anniversary of the country. It is an interesting and well written biography of a person who broke race barriers just by being mild mannered while also being the best in the world at what he did.  Schaap's writing style is engaging, even as he uses and refers to a lot of sources, like newspaper articles and letters to carefully document Owen's story. Owen's comes across as an admirable and likeable person. Schapp mentions but doesn't dwell too much on the prejudice Owen had to face to achieve what he did.  It seems like the message is that if you are good enough, almost everyone will focus on what you can do rather than on your race. (304 p. 2008)

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

 In 1807 a child is found floating in a basket on the canals of Venice. There is a note attached to the child that names him Sebastian. He is raised by a group of revolutionaries who teach him skills from several guilds. Almost 100 years later, Daniel Goodman is living in San Francisco trying to pay back a debt from earlier bad decisions.  He gets the opportunity to go to Venice to look for the original source for one of his favorite books that his mother sent to him while he was in prison.  In Venice Daniel meats an amazing young woman named Vittoria who is a bookseller.  Together they try to unravel the mystery of Sebastian's story and as they do, they discover that Daniel's life is tied up with it in ways he couldn't have imagined. 

This is lovely story of intergenerational family and the importance of discovering who you really are.  It is written in a very literary style with a lot of ornamental language and enriched description of Venice both in the 1800's and in the early 1900's. Having never traveled to or studied Venice much, I don't know how accurate the descriptions are, but I am guessing the author did her homework.  Her language certainly paints a picture and a mood the permeates the whole book. The characters and setting, both political and physical, are carefully drawn. All the main characters show good development and there are some interesting plot twists.  I think if I had read the story instead of listening to it I would have enjoyed it more.  The reader, Jonathan Ross, reads precisely but lacks the chocolatey smooth delivery one would hope for in a literary novel.  I kept being distracted by it.  I kept thinking, "no, that isn't how that should have been read," and then imaging a good reading in my mind. That being said, the book is good and has a strong message about faith, restitution, and self discovery. Thumbs up for the book, but for the reader, not so much. (2022, 400 p)

A Spelling Mistake by Nancy Warren

In this third installment of the Vampire Book Club, Quinn has agreed to host the launch of newly undead author, Bartholomew Branson's last book. On the day of the launch, a woman claiming to be Branson's wife shows up and tries to steal the spotlight. Then she ends up dead.  Was it Branson, who had been estranged from his wife for 10 years, a rival publisher, agent or someone else.  Quinn and her vampire friends jump into action to try to discover the truth and save the town's reputation. 

This is just like the others in the series.  Its formulaic and the plot isn't very sophisticated. The writing and characterizations are fine. I think the Vampire Knitting Club series by the same author is better, but I always have to put those on hold.  I guess the reasons these are available is because they are solidly B quality.  Still, when I finish one book and the ones I want are still on hold, what is a girl to do? (232 p. 2020)

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

 Emily Wilde is a young Cambridge professor who, at the early age of 26, is one of the world's foremost experts on the Faerie Folk.  She has traveled to the far northern town of Hrafnsvik to study the previously elusive ice faerie folk.  The town people are leery of her because she is an outsider, and she lacks social skills, so she has a rough time getting any cooperation from them, until her academic frenemy, Wendell Brambleby shows up.  His dazzling appearance and charm smooth the ruffled locals, but she is infuriated when he offers to co-author a paper with her, knowing that she will do all the work and he will get all the credit. As they begin to work together to solve some local faerie abduction mysteries, Emily begins to wonder if there is more to Wendell than meets the eye. That suspicion becomes a hope, when she finds herself in a predicament from which only his special special skills, and the help of new village friends, can save her.

I can't remember who recommended this book to me, but I am glad they did.  It is a delight. Emily's personality is super quirky, and the chemistry between her and Brambleby is a lot of fun.  Fawcett has an expansive imagination and her world building is wonderful. She has obviously spent a lot of time studying the faery folklore of the British Isles and she calls on many traditional faerie folk tropes in the book. Since I have been adjacent to the academic world my whole adult life, (my husband is a professor), the banter about getting papers published, and presenting at conferences was just an added bit of fun for me. I am sure I will be recommending this book to my fantasy loving friends and am eager to read the next in the series. (352 p. 2023)

The Hangman's Revolution by Eoin Colfer

 In this second installment of the W.A.R.P series, the reader finds Chevie Savano living in an altered present-day London. She is a cadet in the youth army of the Boxites, a totalitarian regime that has come to control almost all of Europe.  She keeps having intrusive memories about her previous life as a FBI agent, and they have gotten her in trouble.  When she once again gets sucked back into Victorian England, she joins up with her old friend, Riley, to try to stop Colonel Clayton Box before he begins the revolution that destroyed her previous past. 

When I read the first in this series, I wasn't sure I would read the second because I didn't like the narrative style.  In this book, it didn't bother me as much, either because I was used to it, or maybe the writing was better. Like the first in the series, this is a fast-paced action adventure with a pretty high violence and body count. The action is like comic book violence, without any real pathos or degree of detail. Still, it is high enough that I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 14. Colfer mixes in a fair amount of humor and silliness, and the characterization and setting are both well executed and fun. Colfer deals with the standard questions about cause and effect in time travel, and the ending is something of a cliff hanger with some basic plot questions unresolved.  The real question is, did I like #2 well enough that I plan to read #3?  I probably will, but I need to rest for a while. The cavalier violence does bother me, so I have to clear my soul for a while before I will consider returning for the next book. (385 p. 2015)

Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer

 When his father dies, Prince Lir is driven from the kingdom when his grasping half-brother sends him on a quest to rescue a peasant girl who has been stolen by a dragon. When he arrives at the dragon lair he finds a broken down and pitiful creature who can no longer fly or breath fire.  As part of his quest Lir must do three tasks for the dragon in order to gain the girl's freedom. As Lir uses his wits to perform each task, he gains the loyalty of the dragon and the affection of the maiden, but his success is short lived. His evil step-brother has more in store for all three of them.

This is a short fairytale novella from the well-known author of the Artemis Fowl series. It honestly sounds like a bedtime story that he made up for his kids and then set down in writing.  It is charming tale of brawns vs brains, and kindness conquering over brutality. It is appropriate for both boys and girls and is full of both action and wit. The reader has a delightful accent and this would be a great choice of something to listen to on a family road-trip. The print version is highly illustrated by rockstar illustrator, J. P Lynch. I am thinking of buying a copy for my grandkids! (115 p. 2023)

More than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

 Evangeline was born with one blue and one brown eye.  She is orphaned as a child and nobody is willing to take her in because of her "defect." She meets two orphaned boys, and they form a kind of found family. Fast forward seven years, and the three are living together on a farm, but life isn't easy. Zach and Seth, Evangeline's "brothers" work hard to provide for themselves and are very protective of Evie. Then a stranger purchases the lot next door.  He is about their age doesn't seemed bothered by Evie's eyes.  As he starts to insinuate himself into their lives, Evie is thrilled to have a new friend, but her brothers are worried that he has a hidden agenda that will only break her heart. 

I was traveling this week and checked this out to read on the airplane. I think I have said it before, but Witemeyer is a great choice as a travel book because her books don't take a lot of emotional depth or intellectual concentration. Evangeline is a delightful character, and all three male lead characters have likeable personalities. The book as a whole is like the flavored pretzels served on the flight--tasty, but not terribly filling. (I won't have gotten past the first chapter if I had taken The World According to Physics on the plane.) (352 p. 2018)

Accused by Clair Poulson

 Private Investigator, Rudy Quigley, often works as a contracted help for a lawyer, Jimmy Jones, doing the footwork needed for the lawyer to build his cases. He usually takes the jobs Jimmy offers because Rudy has a sweet spot of Jimmy's secretary, Natalie. When a brash and unsophisticated woman comes to Jimmy's office wanting him to help her avoid a murder conviction, Rudy is not very excited to help with the case.  She seems like the perfect suspect.  As the investigation progresses, though, he discovers that Daisy Kane is not who she seems. Things get more complicated when  his case and an FBI search collide and the bad guys target Natalie as a way to intimidate Rudy. It will take a lot of old-fashion detective work and more than a little courage to save innocent people, especially the girl he is suspecting he loves.

It has been a while since I read a Clair Poulson novel. They, like the other genres I read regularly, are predictable and are written on a solid "B" (or even B-) level.  Poulson's novels are almost all set in my home state, so it if fun to have places and landmarks mentioned that are familiar. Poulson also understands that working a real investigation takes a lot of time and sometimes tedious foot work, and he includes that in his novels. His characters are pretty flat, and the dialog is stilted, but it is what it is. I know what I am getting from the first sentence on page one and that is what I want. (232 p. 2023)

The World According to Physics by Jim Al- Khalili

 In this book, Dr. Al-Khalili discusses what he calls the three pillars of physics: quantum theory, relativity, and thermodynamics. He explains the latest theories and discoveries concerning each of these areas, and explores the different scientific principles they are built on.  He addresses the very smallest particles of mass and energy, and the nature of the largest galaxies in the universe. He finishes with what scientists have not yet discovered about the world, specifically a unified theory that unites the three pillars. He also emphasizes the importance of learning to think scientifically, basing ideas and decisions of solid evidence instead of emotional response. 

Dr. Al-Khalili reads the book himself on the audio recording.  He has a pleasant voice and does a good performance but his explanations are more detailed and technical than most people would encounter in their daily lives. Several times, when my mind drifted, I found that I was lost and I had to go back and replay sections.  I did enjoy the book. When I was in college (several decades ago) some of what he discussed was just coming to light, and it was fun to get a more thorough explanations about quarks, with their charm and flavor, bosons, intertwined particles, and other terms I have heard about but didn't quite understand.  I also learned more about the Big Bang theory that I hadn't understood before. I wasn't super happy with the fact that he disparages religious belief, comparing it to medieval superstition, but it is not the first time I have heard that opinion from scientists, so I didn't let it bug me too much. Overall, I thought it was an interesting and engaging introduction to the modern state of physics research. (336 p. 2020)

Great Courses: The Aging Brain by Thad. A. Polk

 Everyone knows that certain cognitive abilities decline with age. In this series of twelve lectures, Dr. Polk discusses what brain functions decline and which stay the same.  He delves into the physiological causes of declines and explores a variety of theories about what causes age related changes.  He also touches on the main causes of dementia and talks particularly about Alzheimer's disease. He finishes off the course by discussing what people can and can't do to mitigate effects of aging on the brain. 

I checked this out because I am on the nether side of 60 and occasionally can't find something in my memory that I know should be there. I found these series of lectures very informative and accessible.  There are terms and ideas that I had heard of but realized that I didn't fully understand before listening to the lectures. I imagine that if you viewed this series in its video format there would have been interesting graphics and charts, but it works fine without those. Dr. Polk has a engaging lecture style and I would recommend this series to anyone who might be interested in an entry level treatment of the topic. (6 hrs, 2016)

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riodan

 In this second book of the Percy Jackson series, Percy has finished another year in school and is eager to return to Camp Half Blood.  When he returns he finds that Thalia's tree, which provides protection to the camp, has been poisoned.  Percy keeps having dreams that Grover is in trouble, so against camp rules he, Annabeth, and his newly found half-brother,  Tyson, go on a quest to find a way to save Thalia's tree and Grover.  Their adventure takes them into the Sea of Monsters and pits them against a whole range of magical foes. Are they doing the right thing, or are they playing into Cronos' plan?

I wanted to read this book again after watching the Netflix series of The Sea of Monsters to see how well the series followed the book.  It turns out that it follows the book really well, and even adds some emotional complexity that is only hinted at in the novel.  In the series, we get to see more deeply into Clarisse's personality and emotional conflict of Percy and Annabeth at Circe's spa.  So hooray for good TV adaptations!  (279 p. 2007)