Spooky season is here, and my reading preferences have taken on a decidedly cozy mien. I have a few thrillers that I have to review, but I just can’t bring myself to read them. All I want to read is something cozy — be it a cozy mystery or a cozy romance, or, better yet, a cozy fantasy.
There are seasons to our reading, I think. I know there are times when all I want is to sink my teeth into something “serious” or to immerse myself in some Jungian psychology or books on art and creativity. There are seasons when I want to read all the YA/fantasy, and others when all I want is to immerse myself in some good historical fiction.
Do you find that with your reading too? Seasons and cycles of genres, themes, or subjects that catch your fancy?
Reading wrap-up for October
This month’s reading took me to the bright blue seas of Marsyas Island, to the halls and ballrooms of a sentient house, to an antique shop in Old York, the cobbled stone pathways of Santo Stefano, and the streets and homes of Iran.
(Click on the book covers to purchase the book on Amazon.)
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there. Joining him are the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth, the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children. But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve. Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.
The eagerly anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea is an absolute gem of a book. It tackles some huge themes — belonging, identity, acceptance, mistrust, governmental abuse — with a huge serving of heart and soul. Arthur’s fight for not just his family but for the entire magical community has echoes of current social justice activism as well as the injustices meted out to indigenous and minority cultures across the world, but in a way that isn’t preachy or that will jar in any way from the story. At the end of the day, it’s an affirming, hopeful read; it had me smiling, laughing, and crying throughout, and that’s the best kind of endorsement one can hope for for any book!
A Door Between Us by Ehsaneh Sadr
Weddings always have their fair share of drama, but this one comes on the heels of the highly controversial 2009 Iranian election and ensuing Green Wave protests. When the matriarch of Sarah’s family arranged her marriage to Ali, it was with the intention of uniting two compatible families. However, as the 2009 election becomes contentious, political differences emerge and Sarah’s conservative family tries to call off the wedding. Sarah and Ali, however, have fallen in love and, against the wishes of their parents, insist on going through with the marriage. Sarah’s cousin, Sadegh, is a staunch supporter of the government and a member of the Baseej, the volunteer militia tasked with arresting protestors and shutting down speech against the regime. Meanwhile, Ali’s sister, Azar, is an activist, a divorce attorney, and a passionate Green Wave supporter, trying to enact change in a way that many Iranians see as inflammatory. When Sarah impulsively shelters a protestor in their car on the drive home from her wedding, she sets off a chain of events that can either unmask the government’s brutality or ruin them all. Sarah, Sadegh, and Azar’s stories weave together in an unflinching, humorous, and at times terrifying story that demonstrates that, even as the world is falling apart around us, life goes on.
This is the first book I’ve read that is set in Iran, and it’s absolutely brilliant. The story is set in the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian election and the Green Wave anti-government protests, which I hadn’t heard about before. But knowing nothing about the protests or about Iranian culture was in no way a deterrent to enjoying this book — Sadr skillfully weaves the history and context where needed and brings the culture alive through her words. What’s really interesting is how little we tend to really know about Iran — its people, its culture, even the political landscape. All that Western media has done is to portray it as the “bad guy” without really saying why. But the conflicts in A Door Between US felt oh-so-familiar — protests against a corrupt regime and political disagreements tearing families apart isn’t new to us here in India, especially post 2014. The central Hojjati family could be any conservative/religious family anywhere in the world, regardless of faith. The pacing and tension in the novel is excellent, and so are the character arcs of some of the central characters. All told, it’s an absolutely fascinating book that’s set me on a quest to read more novels set in Iran.
The Witches of Santo Stefano by Wendy Webb
When Cassie Graves discovers her husband’s affair, it’s enough to chip away at the foundation of her life. But after researching her family’s Italian ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her. Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and the warning that she may have walked into a trap. When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the haunting discovery of who she really is.
This was a delightful book! A beautifully captivating story of one woman’s quest to uncover her twisted and shrouded-in-secret family history. I loved the atmospheric setting and the story of love and magic through time and generations. Webb has interwoven the story from the perspective of different characters {mainly Cassie’s great-grand mother and great-great grandmother}, and I really enjoyed their sections. The only minor complain I have is that at some points, the novel read like a lesson on Italy or Italian culture, but that’s just a minor quibble in what was overall a delightful story!
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher
It’s 1851 in old York. Lizzy Grimm struggles to save her late father’s charmingly creepy yet floundering antique shop, Grimm Curiosities. Then, during a particularly snowy December in this most haunted city in England, things turn…curiouser. Lizzy meets Antony Carlisle, whose sister suffers from the same perplexing affliction as Lizzy’s mother—both stricken silent and unresponsive after speaking with ghosts. Working closely together to fathom what power has transformed their loved ones and why, Lizzy and Antony discover an important her father’s treasured set of rare books on ancient folktales, enchantments, and yuletide myths. Books that a persistent collector is awfully keen to purchase. Books Lizzy can’t bear to sell. Every bewitching passage and illustration opens a doorway to something ancient and dangerously inviting. Keys to a mystery Lizzy and Antony are compelled to solve—even if doing so means unleashing one of this bright holiday’s darkest myths.
This was another delightful little book! Set in old York, it’s atmospheric and somewhat spooky, with a slow burn romance and an overall cozy feel that’s perfect for this time of the year! There’s an element of magical fantasy, with doorways into other realms, ancient scepters that harness ghosts, and old Norse Christmas folktales all wrapped up in a beautifully rendered story. Grimm Curiosities makes for the perfect winter/Christmas read!
A Time To Change (Mandeville Mystery #1) by Callie Langridge
Louisa Arnold has always loved Hill House. As a little girl she played in the derelict manor’s overgrown gardens and peered through its cracked ballroom windows, hoping to glimpse spectral lords and ladies dancing within. The tragic story of the wealthy former owners, the Mandevilles, even inspired her to want to teach history. After a terrible loss, Lou hides within the house’s ruined halls. To her astonishment, Hill House begins to transform around her – in place of rotting floors and sagging ceilings, are vast silk rugs of embroidered roses and majestic crystal chandeliers. Mystified by the warm welcome she receives as a guest of the Mandeville family, Lou is suddenly living the life she always dreamed of. As Lou falls more in love with this world that she never imagined could be hers, the truth about Hill House and the destiny of its family begins to unravel around her. Will the past run its stubborn course, swallowing Lou in its wake, or can she save this beautiful place and the people she’s come to treasure from certain ruin?
A sentient house that provides sanctuary to those who need it most — what’s not to love about that? Add in a time travel/time slip element, and you’ve got me hooked! And given how effortlessly Lou traveled back in time — down the steps from the ruined ballroom in Hill House and straight into a bustling kitchen with parlor maids and chefs — I thought it made sense that she kept thinking she was in a coma, and put her experiences in Hill House down to her vivid imagination. It takes a while before she understands that she has actually traveled back in time, and then she does everything she can, including traveling back and forth through time to save the Mandevilles and Hill House from ruin. I really enjoyed the historical aspect as well as the romance between Lou and Thomas Mandeville. Even though their story had a sad ending, the book, overall, was truly delightful!
The Mandeville Secret (Mandeville Mystery #2) by Callie Langridge
England, 1924. Nell Potter pens successful romantic mysteries as the enigmatic Margot Evangeline, but off the page, things aren’t quite so wonderful. Nell, tormented by a terrible ordeal in her past, can’t settle, and her writing is coming less and less easily. When she receives an invitation to Hill House, it feels like a chance to escape her troubles. While Hill House is as beautiful as Nell could have ever imagined it is not exactly restful. It seems the manor has its own secrets – a series of mysterious thefts have been plaguing the Mandeville family, and there’s even whispers of a spirit walking its halls. Will the newly arrived police inspector – the handsome and taciturn James Painter – be able to discover the truth, or is he in over his head? Meanwhile, Nell can’t help but think this might be good material for her next book… that is, until the eerie visions begin to become rather personal. Has her past finally come knocking? And what could the tragic history of Louisa Arnold and the esteemed Mandeville family have to do with it?
We return to Hill House, this time, with Nell Potter. As the house starts to whisper its secrets and an intruder disturbs the peace around Hill House, the pragmatic and logical Nell puts all her observational skills to use to help her friend, Charlotte Madeville and her family. I loved the way Langridge brought in some of the past cast from the previous book, and once again, I love how creative she was with weaving the magic and mystery around what seems to be a sentient home.
The Mandeville Shadow (Mandeville Mystery #3) by Callie Langridge
It’s the week before Halloween, and Kate Durrant is helping her mother move out of the little cottage her parents used to share, until her father’s sudden death. Plagued by guilt that she couldn’t visit her dad in the days before he died, Kate now has only memories for company. Memories and… something else. Since she was a small child, Kate has been able to see and feel the history of objects she touches. One evening, while visiting her father’s grave, Kate takes a detour into the shadowy woods behind the church, and stumbles upon the wrought-iron gates of Hill House, home to the illustrious Mandeville family. Welcomed in and offered a position on the staff as a housemaid, Kate soon discovers that not all is right within the ornate halls of the manor house. The family’s closely guarded secrets are beginning to unravel and it seems that a spirit from the house’s past is bent on taking revenge. With the clock ticking, will Kate’s unique gift, combined with the strength of a love beyond the grave, be enough to save the Mandeville legacy?
This book, set as it is around Halloween, had a delightfully spooky element to it! Kate’s ability to see the history of an object she touches is heightened in Hill House, and the things she sees are sometimes enough to chill her to the core. There’s a spirit from the past that is bent on taking revenge, and only Kate can help to stop it from destroying the Mandeville family. She has help, of course, from some of the other residents of Hill House who know the secret of its sentience. And from Lou, who comes in to help Kate face down the sinister ghoul who is threatening the Mandevilles. I really liked the way Langridge brings in Lou into each of these novels, and the warmth of the characters and the setting make for a delightfully cozy mystery.
Over to you! What was on your reading list this month?
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