A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown

Welcome Back, Booklovers! February was another wild month and my reading took an interesting turn. While I set an accountability TBR this month I decided to deviate when A Psalm of Storms and Silence started calling my name.

So I really enjoyed A Song of Wraiths and Ruins when it released back in 2020. I liked how the story flowed, how the world was described, the traditions during the festival, and how the magic system was being revealed. I even liked the romance between Katrina and Malik. There was such an effortless chemistry between them. I was curious to see where book 2 would go after the events of the coronation.

Katrina is now the most wanted person in the kingdom and on the run from Farid and his army. Malik is working as Farid's apprentice. Natural disaster after natural disaster is striking the kingdom and Karina is the key to stopping it.

I feel like while this sequel wasn't necessary and everything could've been solved in book 1.  I know Roseanne A. Brown has spoken about struggling to write the sequel. The sophomore slump is real and with the pandemic it's a lot harder for some authors to focus on writing. The first half of this book just felt really pointless with the exception of some scenes here and there. It was as if our author wasn't sure where to go with the story and these characters. I enjoyed Hanane and the depiction of grooming and an emotionally abusive relationship. I thought she shown here more and was better developed than Karina. I enjoyed Malik in this story just as much as the first and thought the way his anxiety was depicted was great. I also enjoyed the close relationship he has with his sisters.

Though speaking of characters I do feel like she queer-baited with two characters in this story which is something she also did in book 1 but to a lesser extent. It frustrates me when authors write things like that as if checking off queer rep off a diversity checklist. Don't hint at something you're not going to follow through with and get reader's hopes up.

The world didn't feel as vibrant this time around. The audiobook narration was solid and the steady pacing kept the story moving but the world never really came alive for me. While Karina was on the run there was opportunity to explore other parts of the world that never really happened. 

Karina and Malik spend most of the story separate only meeting up in the dreamscape which was reminding me of Children of Blood and Bone in some scenes. While they still had the same solid chemistry but their ending was such a let down. I see where she tried to do something different but it just left the story feeling incomplete. And after so much focus on the romance and getting us invested it just wasn't enough closure. It also felt like a few storylines were dropped and with this being the final book in the series it left me disappointed. At over 500 pages the story should've felt more developed.

Honest June by Tina Wells

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been looking for more light-hearted MG to recommend and Honest June caught my with it's adorable premise. It sounded like just enough realism and magic to keep a reluctant reader like my niece hooked.

June's father has her on the path to Howard University carefully planning out what extracurricular activities she should take part in and keeping high standards for her grades. Her mother is a doctor who comes from a family of doctors and she's having a hard time seeing her baby grow up. She wants June to dress like a little kid and June doesn't like the babyish clothes he picks out. She also doesn't like the 7 Up pound cake she bakes every Sunday for dinner but she'll lie and eat it in order to avoid disappointing her mother. Just like she lies about wanting to be a lawyer when she grows up. June is so used to telling these little white lies to please everyone.

So she's just started middle school and her father has made her join field hockey because he sees a natural talent in her. She's trying to make new friends with the new girl Blake and also keep her head above water in math class where her grades are bad because she's struggling with the formulas.  Her old friends seem to be mostly hanging with each other lately and she's feeling a little left out. Plus there's her friend Lee who she's been crushing on for a bit now.

So one day at the town fair, June has an encounter with a fairy godmother of sorts. This fairy godmother cats a spell on her to make her honest. So whenever June tries to tell a lie she feels dust in her noise, and swirling in her stomach and the discomfort forces her to tell the truth. And June is blunt with it! Her truths were hilarious! She dragged some people's cooking for filth. She said the potato salad was flavorless! No salt, no pepper, so Old Bay, no Lawry's seasoning salt! 

When she really doesn't want to be too harsh but needs to get her truth out she writes it in a blog. I loved that aspect.  The blog posts are sprinkled throughout. Also there were lovely illustrations in this that reminded me of reading a chapter book.

There was great conversation in this book about parents who put too much pressure on their kids.  Especially with more rising conversations about Black people creating a legacy. While the dream is to create a family business that can be passed down to the next generation you can't force someone onto a path that's not meant for them and June's father had to come to that realization. College is about 7 years away but June's father is causing her stress and anxiety wanting her to live up to this perfect image and have the perfect transcripts for school.

 But it was great to see a story with Black kids growing up, navigating school, friendships, crushes, and relationships with their parents.

Looking forward to the next book Honest June: The Show Must Go On!

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I finished The Blood Trials a few days ago and while I usually like to give my raw instant reaction, I needed a few days to digest and put my thoughts in order. One of my most highly anticipated reads of 2022, it didn't disappoint. Thank you, Harper Voyager for sending me a copy for review.

Ikenna lives in the Republic of Mareen where a potential war is brewing between Mareen and the Accacian Empire. She has trained her whole life to serve Mareen however things change when her grandfather is murdered. Her grandfather held one of the highest ranked positions as Legatus Commander but that still didn't earn him respect in a world that hated him for his half Khanaian heritage. Convinced it's the only way to uncover the truth and avenge his death, Ikenna joins the Praetorian Trials. Ikenna and her friends knew it would be brutal going in but they had no idea how brutal until they find themselves fighting in a literal battle of life or death inflicted upon them by their training officers. Ikenna must find the strength to stay alive as a target for death by her peers while also hiding a special gift and hunting down her grandfather's killer. 

This was a fast-paced military sci-fi fantasy with a little mystery blended in. The world of Mareen is like Earth but not. Familiar phrases don the pages rather than purple prose making it an easy read. There is futuristic feeling tech and I liked the contrast of how Mareen is vs Khanai not just in terms of what the people look like but their values, traditions, and foods they eat.

N.E. Davenport has a way of depicting violence that many fantasy writers struggle with. Sometimes I'll read about violent actions happening in a story but don't actually feel the full effect. Here it doesn't feel like things are just happening. You can actually picture every gruesome detail. I found myself squirming while reading some parts and there's images I won't get out of my head any time soon. And I'm not even a very visual reader! 

I thought I would hate the romance and was prepared to but I found myself rooting for their complicated dynamic. Another thing N.E. Davenport does well is writing unpredictable characters. Just when I thought I had a character figured out they would switch and I realized I didn't know them at all. Ikenna herself is morally gray and utterly selfish. There were so many times I wanted to shake some sense into her as she lets her grief effect her discernment as lives are on the line including her own. I liked that she did end up having to face the consequences of her actions head on. 

I also liked how the very white environment was addressed. Because Ikenna put herself into this position where she's almost killed multiple times over the color of her skin. I liked that we get a scene with her family friends pulling her aside and asking her why she ignored their messages reaching out to offer support. They also tried to make her see that she didn't need to put herself through the trials to get revenge for her grandfather. She convinced herself that there was only one path but if she would've been less impulsive she would've realized sooner she could've rallied support among her grandfather's allies. These are the types of conversations and reflections I need to see more of.

My biggest critique would have to be the very lengthy first chapter that took some time to get into. And the way the first few of chapters read very teenish and on the nose. Adult readers really don't need to be told over that so and so was misogynist or racist. It's easy to tell by their actions. Also the second half had a stronger sense of the world than the first half.

I think this book will be a good read for readers who like YA SFF but are looking to transition into more Adult SFF reads. These are characters who are heading out into the adult world and are cussing, drinking, and making irrational decisions under less guidance. Things get messy! I also think people who want a fast-paced less dense SFF read will appreciate this one also. It also had a very episodic feel to it and there were nights where my heart was racing and I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to Book 2.

Random BHM Ramblings

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Today I'm using this space to express all my random thoughts about Black books and the book community during the month of February. Yes, this post will be a hot mess but it's better than tweeting it all at once.

There are not enough happy stories featuring Black friends on the shelves. And that's across age categories. Why does publishing hate Black friendships? I need more books like Wash Day Diaries but in prose form. And I'm talking about non romance books because these romance books that claim they're about Black friends too don't really incorporate the friends much. And people shouldn't only be able to go to romance when they want a happy story. When someone asked for a rec the other day I could only think about books published before 2010.

People claim to love dystopian novels so much while also mentioning how as Black readers those novels didn't love them back yet they don't read and promote the Black ones. They'll complain about the Black ones focusing on race. The white ones copies the racial struggles on non white people and applied them to sectors of white people. But people are able to digest racism better in SFF with white characters.

There are some books I love that deal with racism including a book I read this month. But some books are just so exhausting! And the way publishing things that racism is the number one thing on Black folks mind. We have more Black books in the mainstream than ever before yet the books full of self hate get the most hype and we have less books centered around the community. More nuance please! 

Indie children's publishing is working overtime to get some great stories for the kid out there. I've read some beautiful picture books recently from smaller pubs with great illustrations and fun plots. They're really doing something unique.

It's not Black Love Romance it's BLACK ROMANCE. I need people to stop trying to change the terminology just because people who can't read about Black women in a romance without white men being centered are feigning ignorance. It's always been Black romance and we don't need to change anything for them. Also acknowledge that romance between two or more white people is white romance.

Lots of editors and agents making business is business threads right now and stating they only buy what sells without fully diving into what that means. Yes business is business but business also involves a great deal of risk to grow. Those books that are held as the standard now offered something new to the market when they were released. So while pushing the same narrative over and over again provides steady predictable sales it can only be sustained but for so long. Another thing those conversations aren't going into is how much of a role marketing plays into what sells and how internal biases determine what stories get selected.

Look at all the African-inspired Black fantasies on shelves right now. Remember when publisher's and editors said those stories wouldn't sell until Disney took a risk with Black Panther and it ended up being a hit? Then everyone wanted to jump on the trend while still maintaining the idea that they could only have one each per year. And then Macmillan marketed the hell out of Children of Blood and Bone in a way we have never seen a Black YA marketed before and I have yet to see matched. And it sold.

Overall it's been interesting to see how the book community has approached Black History Month this year compared to last year. While I'm glad some of the performative people have simmered down because they can't ride waves for attention, I've noticed so many people not even bothering to engage at all this year.

The Ocean Lives There by M.J. Fievre

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's always exciting to discover more indie publishers putting out amazing stories and Mango Publishing is doing just that. They sent me The Ocean Lives There by M.J. Fievre, so let's dive in!

The artwork is both beautiful and nostalgic, blending bright colors together to bring this story alive. Imane is curious about what's behind the door inside their house that momma always keeps locked. Behind the door is a world she feels so familiar with that holds a large piece of her mother's heart. Inane is transported from Miami to Haiti where they ride the multicolored tap-tap bus, gather shells on the beach, and drink fresh coconut water. It shows the side of Haiti that we don't really see portrayed in the media.

This is a great story for Caribbean diaspora children especially those who are not able to frequently visit the islands. I could easily see this story being taught in schools. It felt like a story that belongs in a school anthology.

Also I wanted to highlight that this picture book is more affordable than some of the ones on the market, has a lot more pages, and dialogue! There's more than a line or two on page and the story feels whole. You see the relationship between a Black mother and her child on full display. Definitely a must add to your child's shelf!

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I was in the mood for romance this week and I'd been hype about Digging Up Love since the cover reveal. That cover design with the cake with the bones in it is perfection along with the muscular heroine depicted. And a paleontologist male main character is very different. And I was able to receive a copy from Amazon Publishing for review!

Digging Up Love follows Alisha Blake a baker who works in her grandfather's rural Illinois BBQ restaurant. Quentin Harris is a paleontologist and a professor in Chicago. Their paths cross when dinosaur bones are discovered in Alisha's grandparent's backyard during renovations. 

Alisha and Quentin do have great chemistry and at first I was enjoying this story. I found their meet cute to be really cute. I liked how they interacted with each other through text messages. I actually wish the book was steamy though their were little moments of teasing and clear sexual attraction. Quentin's job as a paleontologist was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about it the same way I enjoyed reading about the delicious treats Alisha baked. Alisha is also a power lifter which was cool though not much was done with it but Quentin liked how strong and powerful she was. And their museum date was swoon!

I'll admit I went in thinking it would be one thing and got something else. The cover was giving me Black love but when I was reading Alisha's POV she was giving me old white woman with the expressions she used. Then shortly into the book we find out she's biracial and was raised by her white grandparents. Okay makes sense. 

Quentin was also biracial though I'm not sure if it was actually acknowledged. The cover has a dark skinned man but Alisha's friend describes him as a Steph Curry look alike. And then later down the line in the book his mother calls him mijo and cooks Mexican dishes for a family dinner. But I can't recall it being brought up even when they were discussing race. Which was odd. I would've actually them to actually discuss that because this story was padded enough with more mundane details. As much as I talk about I don't like solely focusing marketing a book by the identities of it's characters I do like knowing their identities going in. And I'm sure people who are of similar backgrounds to the characters in this story would've liked to know this book has that representation.

Race did play a factor in this story which I wish I would've been prepared for. The town is lily white with Alisha and her sister Simone being the only non white people in town. And one of the reasons why Alisha is desperate to leave is because she's so ostracized. Even though she and her sister have lived there for years some folks still don't know how to act around them. I don't even understand why her sister misses the small town life since per Alisha it sounds awful! Those sections were particularly painful after awhile because it was clear Alisha had a lot of issues that she didn't even discuss with her sister let alone grandparents. And then there were all the feelings she had bottled up over her parents. 

The biggest downfall for this book to me was that it had too much miscommunication drama. All the problems in this book could've easily been solved if everyone sat down and had an actual conversation. But Quentin and Alisha don't know how to effectively communicate with their parents or each other. It was so frustrating to me how Alisha has these dreams of being a baker and wants to move to Chicago and has for 7 years but won't talk to her grandparents about it. She and her grandmother seem quite close to so it didn't make sense. Quentin spends the entire book whining about how his father doesn't respect his job even though it's a damn good job when he could just actually have a conversation with him while having his siblings and mother back him up. 

This book also could've been much shorter because it just didn't feel like enough plot to have it go on for so many pages and their relationship started being overshadowed by the cyclical conflict which really wasn't enough to sustain the story. There is a sequel with the sister, Simone releasing later this year but this town also wasn't charming enough for me to want to return to it. I do think the author has potential with a tighter plot and less purple prose.

Interview with Author Britney S. Lewis

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been anticipating her book The Undead Truth of Us ever since I saw it announced in the Rights Reports in Publisher's Weekly. With zombies, Black kids, and dancing; what more do you need? I enjoy her bubbly personality on Twitter and I'm so happy to introduce some of you to Britney S. Lewis.

What is The Undead Truth of Us about? And how did you come up with the idea for it?

The Undead Truth of Us is about sixteen-year-old Zharie “Z” Young who, after her mother’s sudden death, starts seeing zombies. Then she meets an undead boy who shows her how love can change you–for good or for dead. I think readers who enjoyed The Astonishing Color of After and Warm Bodies will enjoy it!

I came up with the concept when I was in college. I wanted to explore different kinds of love (Eros, Philia, and Agape), and I also wanted to explore zombification through the lens of the Haitian folklore and how a zombie remains under the control of a bokor as a personal slave, having no will of its own - rather than of a virus or infection. 

How would you describe your writing process?

I would describe my writing process as chaotic. Once I have an idea, I start a word document, and I jot everything down. Then I open another document, and I start playing around with an opening scene, and an opening chapter. If I love the idea, then I’ll plot it, using the Save The Cat beat sheet. And just for fun - I like to create a Pinterest Board and a playlist on Spotify. 

What are your favorite types of fantasies?

These days, I’m loving low fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal (monsters, witches, etc), magical realism, and a very select smidge of fairy tales. Also, whatever Legendborn is - I love Legendborn!

How did you celebrate signing your contract?

Ah! Such a great question! Were at the beginning of the pandemic when I signed my contract, so I’m pretty sure I ordered cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, and I’m almost certain my husband got champagne! 

What’s one thing you wish you would’ve known about publishing before this journey? 

There’s still SO MUCH I don’t know, but the most valuable lesson for me is that “no agent is better than a bad agent.” My current agent is AMAZING and deserves all the accolades, but there are literary agents who have the potential to ruin your career before it even begins. Research is everything! 

What advice do you have for authors navigating social media? And how did you decide the right platforms for you?

Woof! Social media is hard, and they can become work if you let them. My advice is to choose the platform you genuinely enjoy and stick with that. I will say, as more and more events are moving to the virtual realm, it might be important to at least have Instagram if anything else.

Have you started planning for your launch? And do you have any teen events planned?

Launches are so fun! I have a few ideas in mind, but as a debut author, there’s a lot I'm still learning. For example, many publishers have a hand on events and launches - they assign you to a publicist who pitch authors for these events, and if they’re lucky - they get picked! I’m hoping I get selected for a few events, and as we move closer to the release date of THE UNDEAD TRUTH OF US, I’ll have a better idea on what my launch looks like. All that to say - I’m REALLY excited for both!

Like Zharie, you enjoy dancing. At what age did you start dancing?

I was in cheer as an elementary school student, and then in middle school I was on the pep squad and on drill team. It wasn’t until 2015 when I was introduced to West Coast Swing, which is a form of ballroom dance! I started competing in 2016, and I’ve been smitten since then! 

Have you picked up any new hobbies in the past 2 years?

That’s such a great question! Honestly, the pandemic has really stunted my sense of adventure the last two years. I’m still active in my local dance community, but recently, my husband and I got into puzzles! They’ve been a lot of fun (but definitely time consuming)!

What’s your go-to cafe order when you’re in a writing mood?

An iced, dirty chai tea latte with almond milk! Yum!

If you could have any other career in the world besides full time author, what would that career be?

It would be in the career I am now! I get to write and edit cards for Hallmark, and it’s so giving to be able to put a smile on someone’s face once they get a card from someone. 

Any info you can share about your current work in progress?

Hm! I can share that it’s not a sequel to my debut novel, but it’s still contemporary horror - AND there may or may not be creepy, alternate universes. 

Make sure you purchase or library request The Undead Truth of Us. You can follow Britney on Twitter @britneyslewis on Instagram @britney.s.lewis and Tik Tok @britneyslewis

A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow

Welcome Back, Booklovers! There's a new Caribbean-inspired MG on the market and this one features a dark mermaid. I received an arc of A Comb of Wishes from HarperCollins Children in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set on the Caribbean island of St. Rita where Kela lives with her father. It's been three months since her mother passed away in a care accident and it feels like she and her father are just going through the motions. They used to go on weekly diving excursions but she no longer has the urge. Her best friend Lissy wants to know why Kela has pushed her away.

One day while collecting sea glass near a coral reserve, Kela discovers a mysterious box. She secrets sneaks it into her bag and discovers an ancient comb inside. The owner of the comb appears to her through a portal through her mirror and reveals herself as the mermaid Ophidia. Ophidia wants her comb back and offers Kela a wish in exchange for it's return. There's only one thing Kela wishes for. But magic comes at a price and what happens when Kela doesn't hold up her end of the bargain?

Fan of The Jumbies and Josephine Against the Sea will enjoy this story. While it has similar vibes at the start being Caribbean set and incorporating local folklore, A Comb of Wishes focuses more on the grief of losing a parent as the loss Kela is experiencing is more recent. And unlike those stories Kela's relationship with her father is strained as they both try to navigate the loss they've experienced. Much of the focus is her coming to terms with the grief and realizing she doesn't need to push her loved ones away. 

It also includes themes of environmental protection and cultural preservation. Not only is importance stressed on protecting the local beaches and reefs but Kela also makes jewelry out of sea glass but never shells as they help stabilize the beach and local ecosystems. Her mother's job was to document and preserve history around the islands and Lissy's grandmother is a storyteller.

Magic is sprinkled in alongside local lore of seafolk that has been passed orally for generations. There are some creepy moments with the mermaid Ophidia who has a distain for humans after a previous encounter. I like how Lisa Stringfellow managed to tie in bits of history while crafting a tale of a grief stricken girl and a 300 year old vengeful mermaid.

*CLOSED* WOC Read February Giveaway

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's been a minute since I did a a giveaway on my platform and ya girl has been blessed by the book gods lately. So it's time to spread the love! 

It's Black History Month in the US and what better way to celebrate than with Black books. And you know I need to boost some underrated gems.  A lot of people tell me they want to read more Adult Black SFF. You must be following me on Twitter @mswocreader . This giveaway is open from Feb 1 through Feb 8. This giveaway is open international wherever Book Depository ships. The winner will receive the Black SFF pick of their choice from the list below. Leave a comment below with your Twitter handle as an entry and good luck!

                               

Forging a Nightmare 

Master of Poisons

Magic Dark Magic Divine

Far from the Light of Heaven

The Record Keeper

Do You Dream of Terra-Two?