Until five years ago, Princess Josetta was the most likely heir to the throne of Welce. But King Vernon’s death exposed many long-held secrets—includiUntil five years ago, Princess Josetta was the most likely heir to the throne of Welce. But King Vernon’s death exposed many long-held secrets—including the fact that the king sired only the youngest of his four daughters. Now that she’s technically not royalty, Josetta has decided to be true to her elay heritage and live a life aligned with air and spirit. So she’s opened a shelter in the southside slums where she can offer refuge to the poor, the sick, and the desperate. One night, one of those desperate souls is her sister Corene, who’s escaped the advances of a would-be seducer only to get lost in the slums. She finds an unexpected champion in a gambler named Rafe, who keeps her safe until Josetta arrives. Rafe seems like just another down-on-his-luck drifter, and yet something about him catches Josetta’s attention. Maybe it’s his kindness. Maybe it’s the air of mystery he can’t quite conceal. Because in a city where everyone is defined by their affiliations with air, fire, earth, wood, or water, Rafe identifies with none of the elements. When he goes to a temple to draw blessings, he pulls only ghost coins. His heritage is a blank—but Josetta senses that his future will be colorful indeed.
Merged review:
Until five years ago, Princess Josetta was the most likely heir to the throne of Welce. But King Vernon’s death exposed many long-held secrets—including the fact that the king sired only the youngest of his four daughters. Now that she’s technically not royalty, Josetta has decided to be true to her elay heritage and live a life aligned with air and spirit. So she’s opened a shelter in the southside slums where she can offer refuge to the poor, the sick, and the desperate. One night, one of those desperate souls is her sister Corene, who’s escaped the advances of a would-be seducer only to get lost in the slums. She finds an unexpected champion in a gambler named Rafe, who keeps her safe until Josetta arrives. Rafe seems like just another down-on-his-luck drifter, and yet something about him catches Josetta’s attention. Maybe it’s his kindness. Maybe it’s the air of mystery he can’t quite conceal. Because in a city where everyone is defined by their affiliations with air, fire, earth, wood, or water, Rafe identifies with none of the elements. When he goes to a temple to draw blessings, he pulls only ghost coins. His heritage is a blank—but Josetta senses that his future will be colorful indeed....more
Albion army officer Arthur Gospatrick has his career path planned--which include a wife who will "follow the drum"; Warding magic expert Melusina WhymAlbion army officer Arthur Gospatrick has his career path planned--which include a wife who will "follow the drum"; Warding magic expert Melusina Whymark has expectations for the life she desires--which do not include marriage to an army officer. Yet when the pair are assigned to protect the Indian governor's office in 1880s Calcutta, respect for one another's worldview & character turns to love....more
In 1927 Hollywood studio fixer Mary Rourke is summoned to the Spanish-style mansion of silent film star Norma Carlton. Norma had been working on a terIn 1927 Hollywood studio fixer Mary Rourke is summoned to the Spanish-style mansion of silent film star Norma Carlton. Norma had been working on a terrifying horror picture called THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, rumored to have unleashed a curse on everyone involved in the production. Mary is shown Norma's cold, dead body, & tricked into helping cover up her apparent murder. 40 years later, in 1967, USC film studies professor Paul Conway, a journalist/popular writer of books & articles on film history, is hired by Mary, now a wealthy widow, to check out a tantalizing rumor--that a single copy of THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND still may exist. This well-researched thriller offers up Golden Age Hollywood, revealing a blossoming industry built on scandals, invented identities, disposable starlets, & a desperate pursuit of a clean public image. Weaving back & forth over 40 years, the author shows Mary Rourke charging headlong thru the egos, distractions, & traps that threaten to destroy her along with the doomed production, as she discovers a secret conspiracy far more evil than she could imagine....more
I wish I could have awarded the 5 stars the premise/worldbuilding deserve, but the proofreading is so bad. In any event, this pythonesque takeoff on AI wish I could have awarded the 5 stars the premise/worldbuilding deserve, but the proofreading is so bad. In any event, this pythonesque takeoff on ANIMAL FARM is a fun, funny, heartwarming fantasy capable of distracting the reader from the ills of today....more
When a princess arrives in Verdania for her political wedding, she is startled to discover she can taste poison on her tongue, due to her unknown heriWhen a princess arrives in Verdania for her political wedding, she is startled to discover she can taste poison on her tongue, due to her unknown heritage as the descendant of a long line of Master Chefs. When the princess is framed for the murder of her fiance & imprisoned, she escapes with the aid of a sentient horse who spends 6 months of every year as a human. He takes her to refuge in a magic land ruled by a dragon queen. There she forges an alliance between their 2 kingdoms, to wage war on Avalon (the country framing her) & Verdania (where she is under sentence of death) to prevent further exploitation of the sentient animals, who are treated as sources of magical food. Volume 1 of a promising new series....more
Everything is perfect in Tobey's Faerie. Everything is a lie. Tobey has been pulled from her own reality into a twisted distortion to support her granEverything is perfect in Tobey's Faerie. Everything is a lie. Tobey has been pulled from her own reality into a twisted distortion to support her grandmother the Summer Queen Titania's vision. Tobey has no way of knowing who she can trust, or even who she really is. As strangers who claim to know her begin to appear, Tobey will have to decide whether she can risk everything she knows based on only their stories of another world. But first she'll have to survive this one,...more
Includes some of Andre Norton's classic YA SF novels from the late 1950s thru the early 1960s, a more recent fantasy. Analog reviewer P. Schuyler MillIncludes some of Andre Norton's classic YA SF novels from the late 1950s thru the early 1960s, a more recent fantasy. Analog reviewer P. Schuyler Miller used to praise her for creating "a willing suspension of disbelief" in her readers. She did indeed....more
After retreating into a stone circle on her farm in the Scottish highlands to evade a trespassing neighbor determined to kill a trapped wildcat, veterAfter retreating into a stone circle on her farm in the Scottish highlands to evade a trespassing neighbor determined to kill a trapped wildcat, veterinary assistant Kelsey finds herself--and the cat & kittens--in an alternate universe where magic works. Unable to return home, she is caught up in a geas which propels her into a quest. Accompanied by the warrior Yonan & the witch Whittle, Kelsey sets off in search of an age-old lost stronghold. I wish I could rate this higher, but Norton appears to presume a greater knowledge of Estcarp & the rest of the Witch World than is covered in this volume. ...more
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