Don't Go Baking My Heart by N.G. Peltier

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Last year's Sweethand was a breath of fresh air for me and it was nice to read a Caribbean set romance not about some white people on vacation but local people. And by an author born and raised in the islands. And I'm a little biased because of my connection to Trinidad and Tobago and it's always nice to see one of your internet friends succeed. I received an arc from N.G. Peltier in exchange for review.

Devon and Reba couldn't be more opposite. Reba is younger, louder, and bolder. It's hard to miss her bright pink hair, outfits that show off her curves, and her penchant for taking selfies. She's the life of any fete. Devon is a workaholic, prefers nights in to nights out, likes classic music, and keeps to himself. With a goal of becoming partner at his architectural firm, he needs to make more an effort to participate in team building activities. The office baking competition is the perfect way to show off his commitment. The only problem is that he doesn't bake. But he's hoping his brother's girlfriend can help him. When she's busy, Reba offers her services. Not only does she plan to help him bake the perfect cake, but she also wants to help him loosen up and enjoy life.

Don't Go Baking My Heart is a fun romance, perfect for a beach read. I liked this one even more than Sweethand. Reba and Devon had a great dynamic and I also enjoyed how their family was incorporated into the mix. And I like how they get to known each other as friends first and how patient Devon is with Reba. He doesn't put any pressure on her to be his girlfriend even though he wants more from their relationship. And I liked seeing his defenses get broken down and watching him stray from his strategies and lists.

Readers also get to see more of Trinidad as the Reba and Devon visit different parts of the island. I think she incorporated some of the local sites in a way that makes sense for the local readers familiar with those places, but also explains them to readers outside of the country without coming across like a guidebook for tourists. 

The Witchery by S. Isabelle

Welcome Back, Booklovers! March has been one of those crazy months where my reading mood has been all over the place. So I decided to pick up the arc I received of The Witchery because I was in the mood for some contemporary fantasy with Black girls. This book releases this summer from Scholastic.

The Witchery follows Thalia, Iris, Logan, and Jailah who are witches attending Mesmortes Coven Academy in Florida. Each girl has their own set of secrets they try to hide as they team up to try and break a curse placed on the town long ago. In addition to the girls we also follow two boys Trent and Mathew, who go to the boy's boarding school across the way. They aren't magical though despite the small town being a hub for witchery. The Haunting Season is approaching and the wolves are roaming the swamp luring people to their deaths. 

It's hard to write a story with six different point of views and the initial chapters were very info dumpy to introduce readers to everyone. I honestly feel like number of characters this book focused on could've been cut down to just two. There wasn't that much of a difference between character voice. And I feel like for stories like this especially you need very distinct and standout voices. Yes, this book had plenty of dark vibes but most of the characters weren't luring you in.

Iris and Thalia had the most compelling storylines and it felt like we got the most from their chapters. Iris is a deathwitch and a natural leader driving the search to find the Wolf Boy and break the curse. She also finds herself connected to Mathew by magic and it's hard for her to come to terms with. Thalia is living with the fear of being found by her father who is on the hunt for her. Their magic also seemed to have the most impact.

I really didn't like Logan. Every one of her chapters was someone calling her baby witch and her whining about not being able to control her magic. There was a point in part two where I felt I was finally seeing why we needed her POV but in the end we really didn't and I would've been fine with the role she played just being explained in the chapters of the other girls. 

I wasn't a fan of the whole three Black witches bringing this new white girl into the fold plotline. It didn't help that a couple of times there were some lines sprinkled in about racism that felt like they were thrown in to remind the audience that these girls are Black. Thankfully we don't actually witness any character being racist towards them which made me wonder why we had Iris mention the townspeople looked at her and saw a stereotypical mean Black girl. It's also always interesting to me when there's nothing identifiable with cultural Blackness in a story. Obviously no Black author should feel the need to have to include their identity into their work but I was hoping since the author is Haitian that one of the girls would be as well. The magic here was very uniform despite this being a school filled with witches of all different backgrounds.

I really can't remember anything about Jailah besides she's super powerful. Even her secret didn't really compare to the others. 

The boys didn't add enough to have chapters from their point of views. Everything they were experiencing could've been and often felt better explained through the girl's chapters.

Trent was supposed to be Black British and nothing felt remotely Black British about him. The kids in the UK aren't calling anyone love or twit so it's time to retire those phrases as British boy identifiers in YA. Why have a character of a very particular background if you aren't going to do research to make them actually feel like that background? No, everyone doesn't talk alike however Black British people have their own unique vernacular. I'm no expert but I do have the internet at my finger tips that gives me a peak into other places across the globe. The only word I recognized as modern slang you would hear in the UK is "innit" and it was only used in this book once. 

Also his mother was a witch which could've been interesting because she placed this weird protection over him that has gotten him out of literal life and death situations. But I don't feel that was explored enough. Like many things in this book the bare bones were there but it didn't seem like there was time to explore all these story threads on page. 

Mathew is tethered to Iris and it seems like there's more to their connection. A romance is teased but never actually goes there for reasons I don't understand. It just felt like a waste to wade in the water and not go all the way.  

I feel like more could've been done with the magic school concept. It could've gone hard building the dark atmosphere. The pacing could've been faster.  The council wasn't involved enough, the other witches at the school weren't involved enough. There were many things to potentially build a series upon here but from my understanding this book is a standalone. There were some vibes but this ended up not being the page turner I was expecting. 

Trope Overload

Welcome Back, Booklovers! There's been a lot for discussion lately about trope first marketing. Recently I saw a thread blaming it on Tik Tok because trope first marketing but I don't think Tik Tok is to blame when these trope heavy books were written and developed before Book Tok took off.

Recently with adult romance I've seen people express frustrations about mainstream romance focusing more on tropes than the actual story and characters. And I've seen the frustrations over how specific tropes and formulas being overused has these books all reading alike. Sometimes it does feel like the author went down a checklist of what tropes people like and when certain events need to happen in the story. When a book does really well publishers try to replicate it's success. So we see an influx of books with similar plotlines and the same tropes. And after awhile you get trope fatigue and are yearning for something different. I like tropes in romance I don't like when a romance feels like the author had a checklist of all the tropes they wanted to hit in the story without it feeling organic to the characters.

There's this idea that's been pushed online for the past couple of years that we can't call tropes in YA novels overused if they're used by authors of color because this is the first time they've actually gotten to use those tropes. One that's not true! Books by authors of color have always been around and always existed even though they weren't mainstream. A trope is not automatically vastly different just because a non white author uses it. That doesn't mean that there aren't authors who are putting unique spins on tropes by utilizing different storytelling styles and settings. 

It's not lost on me that while there's a push for more stories by people of different backgrounds they're expected to follow the same standard tropes and cliches. In a lot of YA stories the parents are seen as inconveniences and are often missing in action so the teens can do as they please. 

Let's look at the love triangle trope as an example. The reason many readers don't vibe with love triangles is because many authors write them in a way where there is clear emphasis and bias on the one person will be chosen at the end. And we're all seen the running joke online about the two white boys who are supposed to be different in every way but look like carbon copies of each other just with different hair colors. But there are ways to write a love triangle and flip it in to something that feels fresh.

There's also this idea that if you don't like the current trope heavy marketing that you're some kind of literature elitist. When a lot of people just don't use tropes to determine their next read. Some people are more into picking up books based on setting. Some people pick up books based on plot. I think most people who read consistently probably have a favorite author they read from. It also varies by genre.

Every genre and age category uses tropes. They are a foundational part of writing. It's not the usage of tropes that's a problem. It's the way the trope is presented to the audience. To quote Audre Lorde, "For there are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt,". So it's up to the author to make the trope resonate with readers in a positive way. Tropes should enhance the story not be the story.

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

Welcome Back, Booklovers! So I read The Worst Best Man and Sun of Beach and I liked them so I decided to try The Wedding Crasher. Thank you Avon Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book opens with a wedding where Solange is helping her cousins who are the makeup artist and wedding planner. After witnessing the bride embracing another man, Solange can't keep quiet and stops the nuptials. Dean needs a pretend girlfriend as his works on an assignment that could lead to him becoming partner. 

There were so many times throughout this book that we got zany situations that felt so random as the author tried to make the book humorous. But they felt so unnatural and out of place. And they really served no purpose! It felt like she binged a bunch of movies and tv shows and then took pieces of them to insert in this story to fill pages. This book suffered from forced comedy and pop culture overload. Way too many tv show and movie mentions. No one talks like that in real life.

The Magic Mike obligatory karaoke to pony scene is so tired and overused now and it's been 10 years, let's find something new! It didn't even make sense here. It was just a randomly dropped in quick karaoke scene that had no build up and was more a quick play by play. And Dean did all that after 3 shots! Plus he's an attorney trying to look good so he can make partner. It didn't fit in with his very put together personality. 

I liked Solange but then her cousin's had the same exact personality too and I don't remember them all being so alike in the first book. Every woman in this book was cracking jokes and talking bluntly about sex. Which it's fine for people to have open discussions about sex. It's a whole other thing when your talking to your cousin and she randomly tells you about how she and her husband spice it up with butt plugs. 

I'm not liking the trend of the 400 page romance and I wish it would end soon. The books are feeling like they should end by the 80% mark so by the time you get to the end you just wish it was over. Why did publishing decide romance needed to drag for 100s of extra pages? I can't even say it fully had a third act breakup because they weren't actually a couple they just had a friends with benefits situation going on, then a fight that ended the sex part but they were still in each other's orbit chillin the entire time.

When they were bonding over their family situations and career goals and dreams is when this couple felt the most natural and worked for me. I liked Solange's mother and tias. The family was very close knit and supportive of each other. It was a nice contrast to Dean's family which was just him and his mother and they weren't even close. I loved all the mentions of Brazilian food. Once you get past the heavy abundance of tropes and forced comedic situations you get a story about two people who are longing for stability and fulfillment. 

Like a Sister by Kellye Garrett

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's Black Women's History Month and I started the month off reading a book by one of my favorite Black women authors. Being transparent I will say my opinion is biased because Kellye is one of my author friends and has been for years going back to Hollywood Homicide's original release. And I did interview her on here back in 2020. You can check that out here.

Like a Sister opens with Lena Scott finding out that her younger sister Desiree has died of an overdose and her body was found at a playground in the Bronx. She's having trouble making sense of it because even though they weren't close in recent years, she knows her sister. Desiree would never shoot heroin and she had no reason to be in that area. But no one wants to believe Lena and insist she doesn't know just how much her sister has changed and are quick to accept this as an accidental overdose do to her partying ways. So Lena takes it upon herself to investigate and uncovers some surprising secrets. 

Kellye Garrett for me always does a great job at blending pop culture and humor into her mysteries. There are plenty of jokes throughout and there are characters I was able to guess the real life counterparts of. But the references never felt heavy-handed and the too dated. Their abundance fit because of the glitzy entertainment industry this takes place in.

Lena likes to think she's not a spoiled rich girl like her sister even though their father is a hip hop mogul because she didn't grow up with him. It's interesting to see her be forced to address her privilege as she comes across people from her sister's world who would do anything and everything to stay on top. She confronts feelings of jealous towards those who felt Desiree was like a sister. And at the same she has to navigate the address her issues with her father, Mel. The famed hip hop mogul has a barely there relationship with her and Lena does find herself wishing she was as close to him as Desiree was. 

There were a lot of red herrings that threw me off from the mystery and I enjoyed the twists and turns. And New York was a character of it's own as Lena takes readers all around the city searching for clues.

Interview with Author N.E. Davenport

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It is Black Women's History Month and I was able to interview an up and coming Black Author who is sure to be one to watch in the science fiction and fantasy space. So if you're not familiar it's time to get familiar with N.E. Davenport.

What inspired you to write The Blood Trials? And why did you decide to write an adult fantasy?

“The Blood Trials” was inspired  by a lot of things. I started the very first draft of it shortly after the 2016 election, when I was drenched in rage. I felt compelled to channel my anger through storytelling, like I do with most of my heavier emotions and experiences. So I set out to write about a Black woman with the weight of an extraordinary legacy on her shoulders who struggles with what many Black women in real life do: having to work twice as hard to achieve their ambitions while already starting off leagues more capable than their counterparts.  But I didn’t want to just tell a story about struggle and trauma through a fantasy lens. I also wanted to create something where I got to play in the sandbox of all my greatest loves when it comes to SFF tropes and archetypes: blood magic, military settings, enemies-to-lovers, deadly forces clashing, long-standing feuds. I love any SFF book that serves me a Black woman as a hero getting to just be heroic, extraordinary, and kick butt. So more than anything, that’s what I wanted to achieve with “The Blood Trials.”

From the moment I conceived the premise of  “The Blood Trials” I wanted it to be an adult fantasy/ crossover book. I love YA with my whole heart and it’s a category I love writing in as well. But my first intro to SFF featuring Black and POC protagonists was L.A. Banks’ Vampire Huntress Legend series. They’re some of my favorite books. I read them originally in college and dozens of times since then. L.A. Banks’ books were transformative for me. They were among the first time I saw myself reflected in the pages of the genre I adore so much. They really left a mark on me and ever since then I’ve been determined to write an Adult SFF of my own with a Black heroine to just experience the pure joy of doing so. 

You have a very memorable cast of characters. What tips do you have for writing a larger cast of characters and still making everyone’s presence feel important?

First off: Thank you! Making my large cast memorable was one of the things I was super  nervous about being able to pull off when first drafting “The Blood Trials.” Something that worked for me to make everyone’s presence feel important was to make sure each character could be the protagonist of their own story and had their own story that they were the protagonist in that I at least reflected  in some capacity on the page, even if “The Blood Trials” wasn’t their story. Everybody in the cast, even the vilest ones, have their own struggles, challenges, ambitions, grudges, and unique traits. They’re all embarking on some journey specific to who they are, their history, and what they envision their future to be. 

What can we expect in Book 2 of The Blood Trials? And how was the writing process for book 2 compared to book 1?

Book 2 was a blast — and grueling— to write. Haha! I didn’t think the dreaded sequel curse that you hear so many writers talk about was a real thing until I sat down to draft Book 2 and it was brutal. But I got through it and I love the initial draft I just turned in to my editor last month. I’m super eager to receive editorial notes back and dive into polishing what’s on the horizon for Ikenna and the rest of the cast who survived Book 1’s horrors. If Book 1 was about finding your footing in the world, navigating hatred and vengeance. and snatching your seat at the table against all bigotry and odds, then Book 2 dives into a weighty and perilous discussion of what it means to hold true power. Is it truly corrupt? Can you wield absolute power without walking a line of evil? And in a world where fighting, war, and bloodshed is pretty much the status quo, how do you bring about change without adding to the carnage and decimating everything around you? On a lighter note, you can also expect more romance! 

What types of fantasy stories do you normally gravitate too?

Anything with deadly magic, lore, feuds, looming war, and romance is my kryptonite. R.F Kuang’s “The Poppy War,”  S.A. Chakraborty’s “City of Brass,” C.L.

Clark’s “The Unbroken,” and N.K. Jemisin’s “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms” are all books that reflect the type of fantasy stories I automatically devour. 

What was the first fantasy series you read that featured a character who looked like you?

Hmmm, the very first I can remember (and this is going back to my early childhood years too) is L.A. Banks’ Vampire Huntress Legends, which I mentioned earlier! Damali Richards, the main protagonist, is a dark skin Black woman who’s the chosen savior in the ultimate fight against Heaven and Hell. A college soror owned the first book in the series, called “Minion.” I remember seeing it on a bookshelf in her dorm room and being like what is that?! I borrowed it and was immediately sucked into the world. I stayed up all night reading it and then had to promptly order every other book in the series the next morning. 

What do you think about Adult SFF Publishers embracing more novels that cross over with a YA audience? And what do you think is the difference between a YA Fantasy and an Adult Fantasy?

I really enjoy novels that crossover with YA since I enjoy reading YA SFF as much as I do Adult SFF. I’m excited that it seems quite a few Adult SFF publishers are buying and putting out more novels with crossover appeal. The difference between YA and Adult fantasy stories is a tough question to answer! For me, the distinction is in how the main character(s)’ relate to the world, function in the world, and occupy space in the world. With most YA books I read, the protagonist isn’t quite sure who they are and/or who they want to be within larger society. Part of their journey and arc is figuring it out. With most Adult books, the protagonist— even when they’re in the teen age range— begins their journey knowing firmly who they are and how they fit within larger society. They might detest it and be fighting against it, or be viciously trying to realize an ambition, but the foundation of who they are has already been laid before we ever see them on the page. Of course, there’s overlap here and there’s examples that turn my opinion on its head! 

Has your background in Public Health, Biological Sciences, and English helped you with your writing?

Yes! A great deal! My background in Biology usually shows up in my writing in the form of me leaning on concepts of gene inheritance and gene expression to explain magical abilities and inherited magic. My background in English, especially my background in playwriting, has really helped me to intrinsically know how to execute a narrative arc for a story with compelling characterization, worldbuilding, and plot points. 

How do you balance writing and raising a family? Especially since you have young children.

Ha! Literally by just tackling things one day at a time. I usually plan out a weekly writing schedule where I block off dedicated writing time for a couple hours a day. I don’t always achieve it though, so I’ve also trained myself to write amidst chaos for the times I have to write while also keeping an eye on the kids and making sure they’re alright. Most of all, I’m extremely fortunate to have a partner and other family members who are very supportive. They all pitch in to help me guard those dedicated writing hours I carve out fiercely. 

If you could travel to any country to research for a new book, where would you travel?

Ghana, for sure. There’s a story idea I’ve had for a long time that’s near and dear to me that I’d like to visit Ghana for research. 

What is your idea of the perfect day off?

Curling up with a good book and doing nothing except readying for pure pleasure all day or binge watching TV. 

Any other upcoming projects you can talk about here?

I just recently sold a YA Speculative Thriller, “Out of Body.” It’s like Black Mirror meets Freaky Friday, and I’m excited for its release in Fall 2023. The protagonist is a Black girl who's a sci-fi nerd and anime lover. She’s looking for her place in the world and perpetually tries on new identities, looking for one that feels like the core of who she is— but when she literally gets kicked out of her own body, she learns some deep truths about what fundamentally comprises her. She also has to fight to get her life back. 

Follow N.E. Davenport on Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated and buy or request The Blood Trials!