The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J. R. Dawson

June 20, 2025

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J. R. Dawson

At the edge of Chicago, there is a Station with a lighthouse that guides the dead to the afterlife. Nera is the daughter and apprentice of Harosen, the ferryman who takes souls across Lake Michigan to the Veil, the entrance to the afterlife. Their dogs guide the souls to the Station and stay with them as they cross over, but some souls don’t want to leave the station, choosing to wait for a loved one. Others fear even beginning the journey, becoming wandering Haunts. When a living woman named Charlie is somehow able to cross the portal to the Station looking for her dead sister, Nera is forced to confront how little she knows about the Station, the city, and her own life.

Let me start by saying, the dogs are the best part! I really wanted to like this more than I did. The first half went quickly, but the second part dragged. Charlie is looking for her dead sister but it takes forever for her to actually get started, and then she gets her answer in one sentence. The waystation is wonderfully creative, as are the dogs and the souls waiting for loved ones. Marketed as a queer fantasy about love and grief, which I think is a fair description. Fans of TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door may enjoy it, but I found this to be far darker. Klune’s novel is much sweeter and warmer. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The pumping station out in Lake Michigan - I wonder if this gave the author for the idea of a gateway to the afterlife out in the middle of the lake

A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

June 7, 2025

A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross

Welcome to Camp Sunshine. It rains a lot. Specializing in cult deprogramming, Camp Sunshine is part of The Laundry, the government department that defends Great Britain from occult threats. Most residents stayed a few months, were rehabilitated, and returned to society. But Derek has been there since 1984, when he was rounded up with some of his mates as part of the Satanic Panic, since they were avid Dungeons & Dragons players, and therefore cultists. Due to what was essentially a clerical error, it took the government too long to realize he was just a harmless nerd, and by that time he was institutionalized. But after many years at Camp Sunshine, Derek gets his hands a local newspaper with an announcement that DiceCon, an annual gaming convention, would be coming to one of the local towns. Derek decides that no matter the consequences, he is going to DiceCon. 

Part of the Laundry Files series. I haven’t read any of the series because it seemed like it was a little too science-geeky (don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against geeky types since I lean toward the nerdy myself), but this was so entertaining that I am rethinking that. Derek has been incarcerated at Camp Sunshine, a cult deprogramming center, for over 20 years, and he interprets everything through a gaming lens, quickly finding a gaming parallel to any unfamiliar situation (enthusiastic women with big boobs trying to sell him something? Obviously a Wandering Monster encounter). Creative and entertaining, recommended for sci-fi/fantasy/horror readers who like a little humor in their reality. 

If you don't know what the Satanic Panic was, look it up on Google and spend a couple of hours down the rabbit hole.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nerds, er, fans at a gaming convention

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

December 20, 2024

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Megan Chase lives on a pig farm in the Louisiana Bayou with her mother, stepfather and half-brother. She is an outcast but her best friend Robbie, another outcast, has always been there for her. On her 16th birthday, like a miracle, the quarterback of the football team asks her to lunch, only for Megan to become the victim of a vicious prank. Things only get worse when she arrives home to find that a changeling has taken the place of her half-brother who has been spirited off to the land of Faery. Megan is determined to go after him and bring him back, whatever the cost.

First book in the Iron Fey series. These faeries and elves aren't the Disney variety, more like the Eoin Colfer type (see the Artemis Fowl series). Many well known characters such as Puck and Oberon, and Grimalkin the faery cat is a great character. There are some fun and creative parts, like the road back to Faery through a dance club in Detroit. Many of the settings in the Iron King section have strong overtones of The Lord of the Rings. Note to fey folk: if you know that iron can kill you, maybe it's not the best idea to go into a land made of iron. Will appeal to readers of YA fantasy/romantasy.

The land of Faery

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg

June 18, 2023

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg

Sequel to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. At the end of the previous book, Merritt Fernsby is just realizing that he has some magical abilities and that he's in love with Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms. He sets out to explore his heritage while Hulda tries to find her friend Myra and hold onto her place with BIKER.

Very enjoyable follow-up to Merritt and Hulda's story, if not quite as good as the first book. It was good to revisit the other characters like Owein, Beth and Baptiste as well. It sounds like the next book will focus on Owein (ominous chord) since we find out that he has much more magical power than any of the other characters.  Looking forward to it. If you like urban fantasy, try this series.

It's Owein!

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

April 13, 2023

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Merritt Fernsby is working on his second novel when he unexpectly inherits a house on a lovely but remote island off the coast of Rhode Island. Estranged from his family and living in New York, he had no idea the house existed or that his grandmother owned it. Although empty for many years, when he arrives, he is pleasantly surprised to find the house in excellent condition. But the house holds dark secrets, and fortunately Mrs. Hulda Larkin from the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms (BIKER) arrives to help him manage the house's whims. But they learn that there is a lot more magic going on than they first suspected, and Hulda and Merritt must join forces to keep the dark out.

I previously read and loved the author's Spellbreaker/Spellmaker duology, but didn't care for the Paper Magician series as much. This book is a return to the magic and fantasy of Spellbreaker, with the same splash of romance. It is actually the first book in the Whimbrel House series - the next book sees Merritt exploring his own history and magical gifts. Recommended for readers of historical or urban fantasy, such as the Soulless books by Gail Carriger or the Glamour in Glass series by Mary Robinette Kowals.

An island similar to the one where Whimbrel House sits (a whimbrel is a heron-like bird)

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

October 31, 2022

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

Galadriel Higgins, known as El to her friends, has escaped the Scholomance, the school for magically gifted children. Usually only 10% of the graduating class gets out alive, but El and her friends managed to turn the tables on the maleficaria who dwell at the school, and 90% of the students survived. El cast a spell to send the school off into the void with all the mals, but her friend Orion Lake stayed behind when everyone else left. Now El has to figure out how to get him out, while also saving the enclaves from the mals that are trying to destroy them.

This is the third book in the Scholomance series. It got a little long and winding, but it was good to reconnect with favorite characters. We also learn more about El's family and her own abilities and the consequences of her actions. There are some chilling details about how enclaves are built as well. The conclusion is satisfying and it leaves the way open for another book in the series, should the author choose to continue.

In Eastern European folklore, the Scholomance was a school for black magic in Rumania, in the Transylvania region. It was run by the devil and open to only a select few students. The school was underground and the curriculum lasted seven years (as opposed to the four years that El spends at the school). The Scholomance also appears in some online games such as Worlds of Warcraft and Minecraft. The Scholomance in Novik's novels is in a multiverse, attached to our world but sort of hanging onto the edge. It's like a mirror image of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter novels: at Hogwarts, there are excellent teachers, wonderful meals and accommodations, and the school works to help and protect the students; at the Scholomance, there are no teachers, the food is atrocious, the dorm rooms are dangerously open to the void on one side, and the school is filled with malevolent creatures and tries to kill off as many students as possible. Nice. The only thing the two schools have in common is being located in a multiverse attached to our world.

A depiction of the Scholomance from Worlds of Warcraft

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw

June 17, 2022

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw

Dr. Greta Helsing (descendent of Abraham Van Helsing, the vampire slayer) has a very specialized practice. She is a doctor to the undead and the supernatural, treating mummies for bone loss, vampires for garlic poisoning, and chronic bronchitis in demons. Her practice is family tradition, a field of medicine unknown to most humans. When a cult of monks begin killing humans and supernaturals alike, Greta must stop the cult to save her patients, her practice, and herself.

Fun and creative. A new take on the horror story, where the undead are integrated into society and live among us as productive citizens. There are clever references to classic horror tales - the undead usually don't care for the way novelists portray them. Recommended if you enjoy a non-traditional spooky story.

The Glory of the Pack by James T. Carpenter

October 13, 2022

The Glory of the Pack by James T. Carpenter

Joe Butler is a werewolf employed as an agent by WOOF, the werewolf policing agency. When a werewolf from an out-of-state pack is found murdered in a local hotel, Joe is assigned to investigate the case. But Joe soon discovers that this first death is just the tip of the iceberg of a much more complex plot, and soon there will be many more dead werewolves.

This was a freebie from Amazon which I doubt I would have paid full price for. Lots of characters, lots of descriptions of werewolves and their vehicles and pack hierarchy, werewolf habits (they like to drink beer, eat raw meat, and have lotsa sex), convoluted plot. Probably won't do another one by this author.

To glory!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

September 29, 2022

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Kell is an Antari, one of the last magicians who can travel between the four Londons: Grey, White, Red, and once upon a time, Black. His home is in Red London with the royal family, while the most dangerous one is White London, ruled by the Danish Twins and Holland, their Antari. Kell has a side business smuggling magical artefacts for collectors and dilettantes. In Grey London, he encounters a pickpocket named Delilah, who first robs him and then rescues him. Together they must return a mysterious stone to the correct London and find the other half, but which London is the right London?

Colorful, weird characters, invented language, magic in many forms, all mixed with social and political aspirations. Four Londons exist in the same place but on different planes (multiverse), and Kell speculates that there may be more. I have come across the multiple city concept before, in books like The City and The City by China Mieville, where the main character crosses from one version of a city to another by going through a checkpoint. Kell cuts a doorway from one London to another by using his blood. There are two more books in the series.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

September 19, 2022

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He visits orphanages that house/confine children with unusual magical talents. Once he completes his visits and submits his reports, he rarely gives a thought to how his findings might affect the children who live there. He follows the official RULES AND REGULATIONS to the letter. Other than his cranky cat Calliope, he lives a solitary life. But then one day, he is selected by Extremely Upper Management to visit and report on a group home that he has never heard of, run by a man named Arthur Parnassus. Linus finds himself thrown completely off balance by the residents and the philosophy of the master, causing him to rethink his whole life and his job.

This is a delightful charming story, filled with hope, joy, sadness, and love! The characters are wonderful and draw the reader in immediately. It does have a YA feel to it, and there is a strong theme of inclusivity, so there are LGBTQ characters as well as characters with extreme magical gifts. The closest comparison might be to the Harry Potter books. I was sorry to see it end, but I couldn't put it down. Put this one on the top of your TBR pile (which I heard someone call Mount TBR). Beautiful cover art. Highly, HIGHLY recommended. A best book of 2022.

A phoenix (yes, a phoenix plays a part in the story)

The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

July 9. 2021

The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

Chava the golem and Ahmad the jinni have both carved out lives for themselves in early 20th century New York City. They are opposites - Chava is a woman of cool clay programmed to help others, while Ahmad is a fiery djinn who prefers to keep to himself. They are friends and spend their sleepless nights walking the streets and rooftops of New York. Their lives intersect with others including an heiress who suffers from a strange illness after a brief encounter with Ahmad and a rabbi's neglected daughter who stumbles into dark magic. Chava has made a life for herself as a teacher, but realizes that her time at the school may be coming to an end since others are beginning to notice that she doesn't age. Ahmad avoids contact with humans after the disastrous effect he had on the heiress, but he has a burning desire to create something magnificent.

This is a follow-up to The Golem and the Jinni, and while not as good, it is still worth reading. The author gives enough of a summary that it's not necessary to go back and re-read the first book. Multiple narrators offer different points of view and their stories are interwoven at the end.

Djinn

Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw

August 20, 2022

Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw

Dr. Greta Helsing, physician to paranormal beings, has been invited to a conference in Paris to present a paper about her work. Her good friend Edmund Ruthven the vampire accompanies her to spend a few days in Paris. But they observe some strange happenings, even with a supernatural conference in town. Little supernatural animals are turning up, as well as ghosts of the long-dead, demanding to know where the rest of their body parts are and a rogue vampire coven (they are all linked). Ruthven returns to England to deal with a structural issue at his family home, expecting to pick Greta up at the airport on Monday. But Greta disappears into thin air, and Ruthven and vampyre Sir Francis Varney (yes, that's vampyre with a y, and he gets all starry-eyed over Greta) travel to Paris to search for her in the Paris catacombs with the help of an amiable werewolf and a pair of psychopomps.

Such a fun and clever series! Vivian Shaw has put a lot of thought into the characters' backstories as well as adding new characters that make sense. This is the second book in the series (first book was Strange Practice) with a third book to follow.

FYI, there are urban explorers called cataphiles who explore the catacombs, take people on tours, and even hold parties and picnics there. The catacombs were created when the Paris cemeteries got too full to hold any more bodies, so the existing graves were excavated and the bones were hauled down to crypts below the streets of Paris.

The Paris Catacombs

Magical Midlife Madness by K. F. Breene

June 2, 2021

Magical Midlife Madness by K. F. Breene

Jacinta was married for over 20 years and was preparing to settle down to comfortable (boring) middle age with her husband, now that their son is off to college. But her husband up and leaves her for a trophy wife, which doesn't upset her all that much but does disrupt the plans she's made. She is at loose ends and when her BFF offers her the chance to house-sit for the BFF's aunt, Jessie jumps at the chance. She had visited the house as a child with her BFF's family and looks forward to seeing it again.

But the house, the town, and its denizens turn out to be a little - well, odd. There are three elderly caretakers including Mr. Tom, a cape-wearing butler who doubles as a life coach, a geriatric neighbor who throws rocks at Mr. Tom and can drink all the men under the table, and the studly owner of the town's only bar who is a shapeshifter and the unofficial mayor of the town. The vampire gardener brings one of his victims through the backyard the morning-after doing the Drag of Shame.

Creepy old house - love this picture!

Great characters, decent humor, romance is kept low-key. This is the first book in a series (Leveling Up) that features 40-something main characters who actually (gasp!) still have a sex life as well as a real life.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark

 October 31, 2020

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark

In a parallel Cairo in the early 20th century, magic has been unleashed on the world by the djinn.  Normally the magic is well-contained but it occasionally gets out of control.  When a city tram car starts displaying strange phenomena, the agents of the Department of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities are called in to investigate.

A quick steampunk read that features some of the same characters from the author's previous novella.  I look forward to more from her.

I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago and haven't been able to sit comfortably at the computer.  There's not much to do beside read, watch TV, and play on my tablet.  It's getting better and I'll start catching up with the blog.

A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark

July 20, 2020

A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark

Set in 1912 in an alternate-universe Cairo, Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha'arawi of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities is called in to investigate the suicide of a djinn.  She quickly realizes that something isn't right about the case and begins to follow the trail of the djinn's contacts, which leads her through the bizarre supernatural underworld of Cairo.

At just 43 pages, this falls somewhere between a short story and a novella.  An interesting aspect is that when the local populace let magic into their midst, they were able to evict their British colonizers.  There are steampunk elements, supernatural beings, and a skillful use of myth, magic, and religion to advance the story.  The main character is erudite, smart and confident, and she picks up a supernatural being who assists her and whose powers are interesting to say the least.  This is a fast-paced read as the characters race to save the world as they know it.

This was a perfect antidote to the historical mystery that I was reading and gave up on (see next review).  The author has several more novellas set in this parallel world, not necessary about the same set of characters.  I already downloaded her next novella, The Haunting of Tram Car 015.