Historical Fiction – Made of Stardust and Stubbornness

“The Memory Police” Review

Posted on July 28, 2024October 8, 2024 by Jen

“The Memory Police” by Yōko Ogawa with Stephen Snyder (Translator)

On an unnamed island off an unnamed coast, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses—until things become much more serious. Most of the island’s inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few imbued with the power to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten.

When a young woman who is struggling to maintain her career as a novelist discovers that her editor is in danger from the Memory Police, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards. As fear and loss close in around them, they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past.

A surreal, provocative fable about the power of memory and the trauma of loss, The Memory Police is a stunning new work from one of the most exciting contemporary authors writing in any language.

Review

This was an interesting read. It’s a bit weird but I enjoyed the characters and the plot for what it was. We never learn why things are disappearing and who is in control of the island. It’s not really even clear if the Memory Police know everything either or are just going along with what’s happening because they think they’re supposed to. Which could also be a metaphor for people “just following orders” and the dangers of that. The ending is really dark but also with the potential of change depending on what happens next? We’ll never know for sure but the ideas are there.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “The Memory Police”.

Book Details

The cover is a black and white photo of a Japanese woman facing the camera. Sections of the picture have been drawn in red ink with a white background - her left and right shoulders, left side of her jaw and the top left of hear head. Over her right eye is a round logo in gold that contains the book title and author's name.

Author’s Website: Yōko Ogawa
Publisher / Date: Vintage, August 2019 (originally published in 1994 in Japan)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Page Count: 288
Completion Date: July 27, 2024

“The Spirit Bares Its Teeth” Review

Posted on July 21, 2024October 8, 2024 by Jen

“The Spirit Bares Its Teeth” by Andrew Joseph White

London, 1883. The Veil between the living and dead has thinned. Violet-eyed mediums commune with spirits under the watchful eye of the Royal Speaker Society, and sixteen-year-old Silas Bell would rather rip out his violet eyes than become an obedient Speaker wife. According to Mother, he’ll be married by the end of the year. It doesn’t matter that he’s needed a decade of tutors to hide his autism; that he practices surgery on slaughtered pigs; that he is a boy, not the girl the world insists on seeing.

After a failed attempt to escape an arranged marriage, Silas is diagnosed with Veil sickness—a mysterious disease sending violet-eyed women into madness—and shipped away to Braxton’s Sanitorium and Finishing School. The facility is cold, the instructors merciless, and the students either bloom into eligible wives or disappear. So when the ghosts of missing students start begging Silas for help, he decides to reach into Braxton’s innards and expose its rotten guts to the world—as long as the school doesn’t break him first.

Review

This was such a good book with a lot of great characters besides Silas. While it doesn’t have quite as much gore as the other’s other book, there is some, all with a medical focus this time. I really enjoyed how Silas struggles to work everything out while dealing with everything else going on for him. The plot is very dark and disturbing but I really like how everything plays out. Certain things were not a surprise while others completely were and I really enjoyed it all. And I was really glad a particular plot point was resolved the way it did. The ending is a bit open ended but I think it makes sense given the storyline.

Be sure to take note of the authors warnings at the beginning of the book. Also be sure to read the authors end notes because while this story is fantasy the ugly truth is people always been sent a way because they were deemed unfit by society and many have been experimented on throughout history.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “The Spirit Bares Its Teeth”.

Book Details

Author’s Website: Andrew Joseph White
Publisher / Date: Peachtree Publishing Company, September 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction, Horror, Young Adult
Page Count: 381
Completion Date: July 21, 2024

“The Wicked Bargain” Review

Posted on September 3, 2023October 12, 2024 by Jen

“The Wicked Bargain” by Gabe Cole Novoa

On Mar León de la Rosa’s sixteenth birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn’t enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father, and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar’s father and the entire crew of their ship.

When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up their soul to save their father by the harvest moon, or never see him again. The task is impossible–Mar refuses to make a bargain, and there’s no way their magic is a match for el Diablo. Then Mar finds the most unlikely allies: Bas, an infuriatingly arrogant and handsome pirate–and the captain’s son; and Dami, a gender-fluid demonio whose motives are never quite clear. For the first time in their life, Mar may have the courage to use their magic. It could be their only redemption–or it could mean certain death.

Review

This was an interesting book. It has some great parts to it but feels a little immature. Granted the main characters are teenagers reacting like teenagers to everything. I feel like it could have done with a bit more editing and figuring out how the story was meant to go. I got tired of how long it took Mar to realize they could actually control their powers – the sudden realization didn’t feel like it made a whole lot of sense. But again, teenagers. I’m glad it worked out in the end though and it was mostly a fun read.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “The Wicked Bargain”.

Book Details

A young person is shown taking up most of the cover facing right with their head turned forward. They're wearing a brown shirt and pants and a necklace. They have one hand up with a flame in it. Behind them is the ocean and a pirate ship. The title and author's name are shown over them.

Author’s Website: Gabe Cole Novoa
Publisher / Date: Penguin Random House, February 2023
Genre: Fantasy Young Adult
Page Count: 360
Completion Date: September 3, 2023

“To Shape a Dragon’s Breath” Review

Posted on August 5, 2023October 13, 2024 by Jen

“To Shape a Dragon’s Breath” by Moniquill Blackgoose

The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. Her people are delighted, for all remember the tales of the days when dragons lived among them and danced away the storms of autumn, enabling the people to thrive. To them, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon.

Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. They have a very specific idea on how a dragon should be raised—and who should be doing the raising—and Anequs does not meet any of their requirements. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. If she cannot succeed there, then her dragon will be killed.

For a girl with no formal schooling, a non-Anglish upbringing, and a very different understanding of the history of her land challenges abound—both socially and academically. But Anequs is smart and determined, and resolved to learn what she needs to help her dragon, even if it means teaching herself. The one thing she refuses to do, however, is become the meek Anglish miss that everyone expects.

Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it.

Review

This was a great book and I’m looking forward to the next one as this is meant to be the first book in a series. The ending of the book works so that it could be a stand alone, but there’s definitely more of the story to be told. The setting is an alternate history version of Earth but still with colonizers and indigenous populations that are dealing with the aftermath of being colonized, and dragons! The characters were great to read about – the central conflict between Anegus and the teachers was well done. I also enjoyed seeing the difference between Anequs who knows exactly who she is and where she belongs and another indigenous character who grew up among the colonizers never knowing the truth about his people. There is a third character in the book who is meant to be autistic, though never outright stated given the time and place, who is awesome. He ends up being friends with Anequs and makes for a very interesting character with his own conflicts to deal with. There are some parts that got a little slow to get and perhaps some other things could have been explained better but I enjoyed it regardless.

I would highly recommend reading the interview with Moniquill Blackgoose, An Indies Introduce Q&A with Moniquill Blackgoose, for more context to the setting for the story and the characters. There are no spoilers for the book in this interview besides setting and information about Anequs and the dragons.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “To Shape a Dragon’s Breath”.

Book Details

The cover is dark red with the face of a dragon in the middle with spikes of hair on top and along its nose. There are red flowers on either side of the dragon's head. The title is written out down the cover one word on each line with the author's name at the bottom.

Author’s Website: Moniquill Blackgoose
Published: Del Rey, May 2023
Genre: Alternate History, Fantasy, Young Adult
Page Count: 528
Completion Date: August 1, 2023

“Mexican Gothic” Review

Posted on July 30, 2023October 13, 2024 by Jen

“Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

Review

I really enjoyed this one. The story does take a while to get going with a slow pace as things unfold but it never really felt like it was too slow. I did think the last few chapters were a bit fast in comparison but it made sense for the story because once the truth came out things had to be dealt with quickly or no one was going to be freed from the house. The description is right that Noemí is an unlikely rescuer or at least she seems that way at first. Given that it’s set in the 50s her personality/behaviors aren’t much of a surprise but the way she handled everything still made sense. I liked the way the central mystery was resolved. There’s a lot that wasn’t explained but like most horror stories some things aren’t ever explained.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “Mexican Gothic”.

Book Details

A young Mexican woman is standing or sitting on the cover visible from the nose down wearing a red dress that wraps around her chest with no shoulders. She has her hands in her lap holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. The background is green wallpaper with floral designs.

Author’s Website: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher / Date: Del Rey, June 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Horror
Page Count: 320
Completion Date: July 26, 2023

“The Queen of Water” Review

Posted on July 16, 2023October 13, 2024 by Jen

“The Queen of Water” by Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango

Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her Indigenous community, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta—stupid Indian—by members of the privileged class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her home to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds.

In this poignant novel based on her own story, the inspiring María Virginia Farinango has collaborated with acclaimed author Laura Resau to recount one girl’s unforgettable journey to find her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope.

Review

This was a book I ended up reading very quickly because I couldn’t put it down until I finished. The story is fascinating with a lot of history. Virginia’s childhood was is sad but the ending of the book is hopeful for the future. I really enjoyed Virginia’s exploration of her background and rediscovery of who she is. At the end of the book there are authors notes that explain how this story came to be. María Virginia Farinango had always wanted to be able to tell her story and to have someone write it with her. The author’s notes should definitely be read after reading the book as it fulls out more information. The book is based on María Virginia Farinango’s life so it’s categorized as fiction – it’s not truly a memoir though a lot of it really happened.

Warnings and additional reviews are available on the StoryGraph page for “The Queen of Water”.

Book Details

A head shot of a woman with light brown skin and black hair takes up most of the cover. She is looking downwards with her eyes mostly closed. She is wearing a gold neckless with four strands of beads and a white dress. The authors names and the title are over her face. The left edge of the cover has a cloth pattern in green and reds.

Author’s Website: Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango
Publisher / Date: Delacorte/Random House, 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Page Count: 368
Completion Date: July 14, 2023