Review: The Language of the Birds: A Novel

The Language of the Birds: A Novel by K.A. Merson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Language of the Birds: A Novel by K.A. Merson from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.

The Language of the Birds: A Novel by K.A. Merson appealed to me just based on the title.  I didn't really know much about it when I started to read and was delighted I did!  This is a thriller about an incredibly intelligent young person who gets pulled into a dangerous venture to try to save her mom.  To do so, she has to solve puzzles and essentially go on a scavenger hunt to get the next pieces.  I loved that the puzzles were included so you could also try to solve them with her.  I love a good puzzle!  If you do too, you will want to check this book out.

Bonus points for Mojo!  What a good dog!

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Review: The Family Experiment

The Family Experiment by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Family Experiment is the third book in the Dark Future series by John Marrs.  I didn't know that when I started reading, but it turns out you can read this as a standalone without issue.  It makes reference to the topics of the first two books, but it won't hinder your reading.  I do plan to check out the other books now!

I was drawn to this book because it is about a reality TV show where parents raise a virtual child to compete to either keep that child or win enough money to have a "real" child.  The chapters focus on the different competitors and tell the story through their experiences.  Now and again there is a chapter of online chat comments about the show, think going to Reddit to read about your favorite TV show.  

The world this book is set in is not that different from our own.  It could be our near future.  In it, it is a little more difficult for the average person to afford a child which is why people are willing to consider virtual options to the point of competing.  It is really well done and very plausible.  It is dark, so keep that in mind if you decide to read it.

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Review: The Full Moon Coffee Shop

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is the perfect cozy read for someone who enjoys coffee and/or tea beverages and/or cats.  Basically, me.  Each section of the book is about a different character, although they are all intertwined in a way.  They are all lead to the Full Moon Coffee Shop which is exactly that, a pop-up coffee shop that shows up during the full moon.  There are cats involved, special drinks and treats, and some fun astrology.  It made me want to get my chart done even though I don't place much faith in it.  It was really interesting.  I also want to know what special drink or food I would get!  The book isn't very long, so you should just read it already.  

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Review: Tides of Fire

Tides of Fire by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tides of Fire is the 17th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  If you have never read the books, you could pick up here.  It might not be the best entry point because there is some character backstory you would miss.  It wouldn't take away from the main action though.  

If you are claustrophobic, afraid of the ocean, or not a fan of boats, you may want to steer clear of this book.  If you are not any of those things, charge on, my friend!  This was very intense and really you do get the sense of how similar deep sea exploration is to space exploration.  You also realize just how little we do know about what lurks down deep as we continue to discover new things all the time.  At the same time, I don't think I am in any rush to go down there.  It sounds incredible but really if things go bad, you don't have many options.  

Rollins bases his story on real science, so there is always a hint of "this could actually happen" when you are reading.  This time, I really hope he is wrong because uff.  It was stressful.  Incorporating the rainbow serpent concept was very cool.  I knew a little already and ended up doing a deeper dive (pun intended) to learn more.  

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Review: The Reinvented Heart

The Reinvented Heart by Cat Rambo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of The Reinvented Heart edited by Cat Rambo.  It is an anthology of short science fiction/romance stories by female and nonbinary authors.  I learned about it when Naomi Kritzer read a section of her story at WisCon a few years ago.  I really wanted to hear the rest of the story, so I sought out the book.  The anthology also includes a bunch of my other favorite authors, so I knew I would enjoy a good portion of it.  I don't normally read romance, but when it is presented in an interesting fashion, I am open to exploring it.  And while this can be considered romance, it is not traditional, formulaic romance.  The topics covered make you really think about love and what it means. We call it romance, but the anthology is really more about love in all its many facets.  If you like science fiction, give this a read even if romance isn't your thing.  The writing is excellent.

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Review: The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel

The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel by Annie Hartnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Road to Tender Hearts: A Novel by Annie Hartnett from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.  This book is expected to be published on April 29, 2025.

Annie Hartnett has a way of writing books that I just love to read.  I think some of it is her dark sense of humor, but I mostly think it is the way she incorporates animals into her stories.  They aren't just set dressing.  The Road to Tender Hearts delivered on that again.  I've done my share of road trips, but I don't think any of them have been quite this eventful.  It reminded me a bit of National Lampoon's Vacation in that way.  This is a little bit of spoilers, but the part about the soap opera convention was really spot-on.  It makes me think Annie may have been to one...for research?  If you want to read something that will lightly tug at your heartstrings but will mostly make you laugh, you will want to get a copy of this as soon as you can.  

Bonus points for Pancakes who should have his own series. 

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Review: Starter Villain

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will admit that this cover picture and title was enough to make me want to read Starter Villain by John Scalzi.  My beloved Izzy was the perfect villain's cat.  She generally had disdain for any human other than me.  She would approve of this book.  In fact, I think she may have been the basis for one of the characters.  This book was so much fun I would want to read a sequel or a whole series.  If you like Despicable Me, Minions, Bond villains, cats, or dolphins, you will enjoy this book.  If you don't like even one of those things or this book, I am adding you to my list of people to go after once I get my villain business off the ground.  I was inspired!

Bonus points:  Have I mentioned the cats?

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Review: New Adventures in Space Opera

New Adventures in Space Opera by Jonathan Strahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Adventures in Space Opera is an anthology of short stories written by a variety of great authors and edited by Jonathan Strahan.  I knew I wanted to read this when I saw it included Charlie Jane Anders, but there are other writers I really enjoy reading as well.  You can read the stories in any order you like.  If you aren't sure about space opera, this is a good entry point because each story could be read in a sitting.  You aren't buying into hundreds of pages of epic storytelling.  And yet, you still get a taste of the genre.  

Bonus points: The Becky Chambers story is an origin story of a character in of one of her books but won't spoil anything for you.  I found it so sweet and was so happy it was included.  

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Review: (Don't) Call Mum

(Don't) Call Mum by Matt Wesolowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of (Don't) Call Mum by Matt Wesolowski from Wild Hunt Books. The book is expected to be released May 8, 2025.

I have loved every book Matt Wesolowki has written. When I saw that Matt would be participating in the Wild Hunt Books' The Northern Weird Project, I was very excited. "Northern Weird" sounds like a typical day for me. I needed to read this. I am going to do my best not to give anything away. It mostly takes place on a train. It is definitely creepy. It reminds us that folklore often has a basis in some truth. There is a reason a story catches on and sticks with a group of people, even if it gets embellished over time. It is a very fast read because you really want to know what's going to happen next. Hope you have a chance to read it!

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Review: When We Were Real

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory from Saga Press via NetGalley.  It should be published April 1, 2025.  How appropriate!  

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory explores one of my favorite theories, what if this is all a simulation? Would it change how you approached life?  Is it that different from believing in a god that created everything and let it just play out?  Or would you go on a cross-country bus tour to see the oddities the programmers created?  That's what this eclectic group does.  What happens next is not what anyone could have predicted. Things get crazy!  Even crazier than learning that life is a simulation, and you are nothing more than computer code.  I didn't really want to put this book down, partly because I wanted to know what happened next and partly because I liked noodling over the questions this brings up about life in general.  Also, there is a good bit of humor so don't worry that it will be too serious.

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Review: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett is my kind of mystery.  Told in an unconventional epistolary-style format, not too gruesome, potentially involving a cult that thinks they are angels, lots of surprises...it is near perfect. It also is fitting for these times where people you thought were solidly rational suddenly get sucked into something that is hard to imagine they would believe. If any of that resonates with you, treat yourself to this book.

Bonus points:  It is rare that I develop a theory about a storyline that is totally wrong.  However, this book got me.  I got it wrong.  Well played!

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Review: Killers of a Certain Age

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Killers of a Certain Age is the first book in the Killers of a Certain Age series by Deanna Raybourn.  This can be read as a standalone novel if you aren't interested in starting a series right now.  This was the perfect book for how I am feeling right now.  Even though I am living my best recently retired life, I like to think about other things I could do with myself in my golden years.  I might add assassin to the list.  I loved that this is about a group of senior women who still got it when it comes to what they do best, kill objectively bad people.  No willy-nilly murder here.  There is also a good deal of humor, so this isn't a super serious or tough read.  I'm looking forward to the next book.

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Review: All the Water in the World: A Novel

All the Water in the World: A Novel by Eiren Caffall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of All the Water in the World: A Novel by Eiren Caffall from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.  The book is available now!

I wanted to read All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall when I heard that it is about a group of people surviving a major flood by living in New York's American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).  I have been to the museum a few times and know that area of New York pretty well, so I could really visualize the devastation of the flooding and crazy weather.  I can even imagine there would be people who would care enough to try to preserve history so that future generations could understand what the world was like before it was destroyed by extreme weather events.  Not everyone in the world will have good intentions though, and survival is the name of the game when resources are scarce. It is more interesting that the story is really centered on a young girl growing up in this new world.  These experiences shape her, and she has a special relationship with the water. Her descriptions of the different kinds of water are magical.  While I think it is still dystopian fiction, I still felt a sense of hope.  

Bonus points for including Joliet, IL. That was an unexpected and welcome surprise. My dad was from Joliet, so I always appreciate when it pops up. It also gave me a better sense of who Keller is.

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Review: Saltwater

Saltwater by Katy Hays
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Saltwater by Katy Hays from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. It will be published around March 25, 2025.

Saltwater by Katy Hays takes place on the island of Capri.  What a beautiful location for such dastardly deeds!  The story is told from multiple perspectives during different time periods to help us solve the mysterious deaths of two women linked to a wealthy family that vacations on the island.  Were they murdered?  Did they jump from the cliffs?  Was it all just horrible coincidental accidents?  It seems everyone has a secret, lots of people have motive, but everyone claims innocence.  Maybe they are...While you are puzzling out the mystery, you can also ponder whether money can buy happiness.  The book makes a pretty good case for and against.  The book keeps you guessing right until the end!

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Review: Small Game

Small Game by Blair Braverman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Small Game by Blair Braverman is great if you are into survival shows or outdoor living.  It follows the story of six people chosen to participate in a survival reality show called Civilization.  They are supposed to survive in an outdoor environment (that could be anywhere) for six weeks with just their wits, expertise, and one carefully selected item.  Everyone has their reasons for being on the show, but not everyone has the same level of ability at survival.  Six weeks doesn't seem like a long time from the outside, but I am pretty sure it would suck.  I'm intentionally avoiding discussing anything further to keep away from spoilers.  I will say, the show doesn't go exactly as planned.  It may also make you think twice about auditioning for Survivor.  

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