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I was not certain how I was going to feel about Tracy Banghart’s latest novel and series opener. I found it a bit predictable in some major plot points and sluggish at times. I enjoyed myself while reading it but was not enamored with it as I thought I might be given the buzz surrounding it. I found the ending to be suspenseful and rather intense, and Ms. Banghart managed to throw in one or two twists that helped offset the predictability. It ends with a decent cliffhanger that does make me want to continue with the series. Whether the story will linger enough in my mind to remember once the sequel is available is anyone’s guess.
Book four in The Parasol Protectorate series is another one that all my files say I read but one in which I have no memory of reading, let alone the plot. It does not matter in the end because I enjoyed this one as much as the first three, if not more so because I do think Alexia is getting feistier with each book. Her no-nonsense approach to life remains hilarious. It is her antics while nine months pregnant though that really had me laughing. Just the name of her unborn child, the Infant Inconvenience, is right on the nose because let’s face it – being pregnant is an inconvenience at times. There is never any malice to her words. She is pragmatic to a fault, and I love that. No drama. No angst. I loved this series when I first discovered it, and I am thoroughly enjoying reacquainting myself to it. On to book five!
Oh, my heart! The T. Greenwood historical fiction novel about the “real-life Lolita” is absolutely horrifying. There are not enough adverbs or adjectives to describe how disturbing Sally Horner’s story is. Ms. Greenwood does an excellent job balancing the terrible with the beautiful, but it is a story I finished with many shaky breaths and a pit in my stomach. I finished it because I did not know her story and because Ms. Greenwood makes us care so much about Sally. At the same time, there is no way I would recommend this to very many people. The cover should just have one big trigger warning label across it because child rape is probably the biggest trigger that exists. Beautiful. Terrible. It is both, and it is going to haunt me for a long time.
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Ouch.
So, what are you reading?
So many books!! Sadie is so so so excellent. I hope you love it.
I have been debating the Real Lolita and now realize I just can’t even read that or Rust and Stardust. Maybe when my girls are bigger.
Everytime I see the All Souls books I think how I need to go back to the beginning and read. I need to make myself just fill my library list with those!
I am looking forward to finally getting to Sadie. Someday.
I get that. It is a difficult topic no matter what age your children are. I consoled myself with the thought that my daughter is more worldly and aware than Sally ever was. At least I hope she is.
The All Souls books are just so very, very good. I find myself savoring even the pages of the compendium because the writing and the characters are so well-developed and special. I could always use a re-read of that series!
Oh my gosh – I didn’t realize Rust and Stardust was about Sally Horner! I just tried The Real Lolita and put it down because the execution was kind of terrible. But, the story is still fascinating to me…maybe I should try Rust & Stardust instead.
I had to do a double-take when I started it because I had seen your review of The Real Lolita. I really enjoyed Rust and Stardust, as much as you can enjoy that story. I thought the author did a fantastic job with such a difficult subject.