Title: Stargazy Pie Author: Victoria Goddard Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just) Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2016
I absolutely loved the prose and style of writing in this novel. It was exactly the kind of story that normally would draw me in, and I read most of it just because I loved the writing. However, I just didn’t get engaged with the storyline. Or attached to the characters, and I have far too many amazing books on my shelves to keep on diving into one that isn’t ticking all of my happy buttons.
Title: Shift Happens Author: T.M. Baumgartner Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2020
This is a great new urban fantasy author to add to my shelves! One that not only swept me away on a great story, but also just, generally created a wonderful world in which to exist. I mean, the world was textured and enjoyable – there was a whole lot of conflict and mayhem and magic. Some of the conflict was magical in nature, but some of it was just the normal social nonsense that we all have to navigate.
I love that the lead of this story is an unattached, menopausal woman in her 50s. There aren’t many stories I read that have a female of this age and hormonal difficulties leading. And whilst I’m nowhere near in my 50s or ready for menopause, the hormone fluctuations were entertainingly familiar and had me giggling throughout. Especially how the hot flashes can hit at the most random and irritating times.
For two of the women in this story, the rage of being a woman is beautifully manifested in their shifted shapes. The rage of having to deal with ego-driven nonsense that is just… well, frustrating and rage-inducing. Both Angela and the dragon are transformed under less than stellar circumstances, and they both are reduced to trying to deal with the consequences of others’ stupidity. Probably more so Angela – I would’ve snapped FAR earlier than she did, but there’s a reason why I’m not a hero in a novel…
Throughout all of the mayhem and craziness that unfolds in Angela’s life, she has some amazing friends who manage to rally around her. It’s always lovely to read a story which features really strong friendships, and ones where the women just aren’t pitted against each other. It’s always heartwarming to read about characters that value each other as they are. And are willing to stand by their friends, even if it might cost them something.
Shift Happens is an absolutely unforgettable story. One that I enjoyed far more than I had anticipated from the blurb and cover to be honest. It was tragic in places and made my eyes water. But, then, had me giggling and smiling at other moments. I love that I was taken on a ride of insanity, but also experience a wide range of emotions whilst going on this journey. Now I can’t wait to see what else Baumgartneris capable of writing.
I often wonder just what happens after the happily ever after in fairy tales. Marriage is honestly not the ending, but just the beginning of another chapter in life. And, although I like to imagine sometimes that the happily ever after moment and joy continues, I’m not always that optimistic. I like that Hopkinson took this idea and emphasised that sometimes we have to recreate our own happily ever after.
The name of the original fairy tale completely eludes me, but Precious / Isobel is a very familiar character. I love that originally, having diamonds, flowers and precious jewels fall from her lips was considered a gift. Yet, it ultimately turns into a curse. And, although her husband ‘saved’ her from servitude to her family, it was ultimately Isobel herself who was able to save herself from her curse and craft a whole new life for herself.
The rage of women and the frustration that we sometimes feel when we are constantly overlooked and ignored seems to be a bit of a note that I’m finding in stories lately. I love that Isobel is able to use this anger to actually release herself. Her final rant and moment of release was beautiful, and definitely a moment that I will continue to remember with fondness.
I spent this whole story trying to figure out which myth this short story was based on. And then, I realised that it was about Hades and Persephone. Which completely makes sense, but rather than being based on romantic or sexual love, it’s about a mother’s love.
I love that Aracely and Joanna have so much potential at the turning point of seventeen. And even though they’re both dead, that potential is somehow expanded, not diminished. But, they also have a reality and a life to grow into. One that they both grasp with eyes wide open.
There is something eerie and haunting about this story from the very beginning. And, it isn’t until the end that I could quite put my finger on why. On the one hand, it’s sweet and a reminder of the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child. On the other, it’s a little bit creepy the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child…
Title: The Polar Bear’s Fake Mate Author: Sophie Stern Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just) Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2021
This was such a fun and engaging premise, and reminded me a little bit of At Any Price – selling an aspect of your time and self for financial need and gain. Although this was a little less overwhelming with the nuances of their deal. I absolutely adored the idea – but I found that the storyline started to drag really quickly. I found that there was too much set up before the action, and I just couldn’t get any further through the story sadly.
I love that this short story not only encompassed a part of Chinese culture and mythology, but also the immigration experience and some of the difficulties in combining the two realities. As someone who has no experience (and never will) with either reality, I really liked the insight that Wongwas able to provide whilst also just writing a phenomenal short story that I didn’t want to end.
The idea of feeding the ghosts to help them move on is absolutely beautiful and I really enjoyed learning about how they are able to progress to the next part of their afterlife. It also made ghosts less scary, and far more sympathetic. I would’ve though a story about exorcising ghosts was going to be scary. But, instead, I found it incredibly peaceful.
Death and afterlife understandings and rituals are always something that have fascinated me. How do people move on and process loss? I like that Olivia’s Table is all about mourning the lost, and letting people move on, both the living and the dead. Wonderfully enjoyable and definitely a short story that I look forward to reading again in the future!
There was something that kept pulling me back into this story. It was one that I kept going to DNF, but then a moment would pull me right back in, so I couldn’t quite put it down. I’m glad that I read it. But there were definitely way too many unanswered questions at the end of this. And I probably wouldn’t read it again, but it was still a good story that kept pulling me in.
I found Jenson a little too aggressive for my tastes. I like my men to be a little alpha. But he was a little bit too intense. I get that sometimes people like bodice rippers, but they’re definitely not to my taste. And Jenson is the perfect lead for that genre of story.
Danny was a really fun and enjoyable lead though. She had so many layers and was really easy to follow. Probably the main reason that everytime I felt unsure about this story, I dived straight back in. I did want a bit of a better happily ever after for her though…
Title: The Night Calling Author: Juliana Haygert Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just) Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2022
I really liked the idea of this story and novel. But, something about the style of this writing just kept throwing me completely out of the storyline. Every time I started to sink into the writing, I was unceremoniously thrust back into reality. Which isn’t why I like to read books.
Even with the disjoint in the experience, I did find that there were enough mysteries to this story to keep me wanting to read more. But, ultimately, even the great plot line couldn’t keep me engaged enough to want to finish this tale.
Family is always a tricky thing to experience, describe and write about. Often, it is the thing that most destroys us, but also holds us together. This short story was a reminder of all of that darkness, a family trying to survive throughout war. But falling apart as they try to stay together. It honestly hurt my heart to read this tale. But also reminded me to cherish the family I have and the good memories.
There was a dark foreshadowing in the tone of this story from the very beginning. It was pretty obvious from the beginning that there wasn’t going to be a happy ending for these siblings. Plus, that kind of follows the tone of most of the stories in Green Monkey Dreams… there’s a layer of darkness that I haven’t focused in on in a while.
We all play games as children, and sometimes we remember the most random aspects of these games. Yet, sometimes these games and moments of perceived joy hid a greater, and much darker truth. In this case, the ways in which we hide from the truth and try to protect each other…
I knew from fairly on that the missing ingredient in the mother’s food was going to be heart. I mean, good food always comes from the heart. But, what I really, really didn’t expect was how this story was going to end. That was just disturbed and uncomfortable.
This short story was a whole lot darker than any of the stories in the Hungry Hearts collection so far. And it actually broke my heart a little. I mean, there was dealing with death and the loss of a father. But then the mother-daughter relationship was so completely broken too. And by the end, it was even more disturbingly broken.
The Missing Ingredient was such an amazing story – I honestly need a whole lot more Roanhorse in my life. There is something really intense and wonderful about her words, and I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
Earth and Skye 