My Real Children by Jo Walton

My Real Children by Jo Walton is a fascinating, character-driven alternate history for grown-ups.

Patricia is very old (she can't quite remember how old), and she's in a nursing home. "Confused today," the nurses write on her chart, or, "Very confused." They often write, "Very confused." It's true. It's not exactly that Patricia can't remember certain things -- it's that she remembers two lives. Did she marry Mark shortly after college, or did she find happiness a little later in life with Bee? Did she have three children, or four? Was her time spent writing travel guides about Italy, or did she volunteer with groups devoted to preventing nuclear war? She can't even remember whether she went by Pat or Trish for most of her adult life. Patricia loves all of her children, and though one of her lives may have been happier than the other, both had moments of beauty and truth. Must she choose between them?

This is a lovely, haunting book. It bears within it a lot of sadness, and it's by no means a light read, but it is just beautiful. I'm also impressed at the way Walton plays with the chronology, creating not one alternate history, but two. (I kept trying to figure out which of Patricia's lives was the "real" one, but neither exactly mirrors the world as we know it.) This is a book I know I'll want to revisit in the future, and I know it's one that will only improve upon rereading.
(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason has a little bit of everything -- steampunk, Sherlock, time travel, Egyptology, romance, mystery.

Mina Holmes, daughter of Mycroft, and Evaline Stoker, sister of Bram, are brought together by Irene Adler to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. Mina, who aspires to follow in her uncle's footsteps, is a skilled (if inexperienced) investigator, and Evaline is a highly trained (though also inexperienced) vampire hunter. Together, they must infiltrate a secret society dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet and discover why upper-class girls like themselves have been dying under mysterious circumstances. Along the way, they are sometimes helped, sometimes hindered by an all-too-clever Scotland Yard investigator, a charming pickpocket, and a strange young man from a future where electricity, not steam, is the preferred source of energy.

I wanted to enjoy this book, but I think perhaps it tries to do too much. The time travel element is unnecessary, the mystery is left partially unsolved, and the romantic elements are rather unsatisfactory. There are a few instances where the dialogue is a little too modern for the setting, and a few holes in the plot strained my credulity. I did enjoy parts of this story, but when I closed the book, I found myself thinking that the whole of the story came out as less, somehow, than the sum of its parts.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher, via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.)

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger is the second book in the Finishing School series, and just as much fun as the first!

In this book, Sophronia continues to learn the fine points of etiquette and espionage at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, but many exciting things are afoot. The airship housing the school is traveling to London, and a select group of boys from Bunsen's, their brother school, has come aboard as well. All of the girls are eager for a trip to town (and a chance to flirt with some boys along the way), but Sophronia believes that there is more going on than meets the eye, and she is determined to use her skills to discover exactly what's going on. . . .

This series continues to be highly enjoyable, with steampunk goodness, vampires, werewolves, and espionage. Certainly start with Etiquette & Espionage if you are unfamiliar with the series, but readers who have already read and enjoyed that first book will find this one just as engaging.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken is just the sort of book that I would have loved as a child.

High-spirited, slightly spoiled Bonnie Green is full of excitement at the prospect of her cousin Sylvia's arrival. Even though Bonnie's parents are about to leave on a long journey and Bonnie and Sylvia will be left in the care of a new governess who looks strict and cold, Bonnie knows that she and Sylvia will become close friends. The reality is much different than the two girls could possibly have expected, though: as soon as Bonnie's parents are away, the erstwhile governess takes control of the manor, turning away all but the worst of the servants, rooting through the papers in the library, and sending Bonnie and Sylvia off to a cruel orphan school that is no better than a workhouse. With the help of a goose boy who lives in a cave on the grounds of Willoughby Chase and a few loyal servants, Bonnie and Sylvia must find a way to escape. Even if they do, where will they go? What has become of Bonnie's parents -- have they fallen victims to foul play? Can anyone bring order back to Willoughby Chase?

This is a great, old-fashioned read with lots of adventure. I enjoyed it tremendously, and can't believe I waited so long to read it!

(Reviewed from my personally purchased copy.)

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry is steampunk with goblins -- what's not to like?

All her life, Lena has been ashamed of her unusually long hands and feet, which her family doctor claimed were evidence of a Peculiar (part-goblin) heritage. Since Lena's father disappeared from her life when she was a young child, she doesn't know if there's any truth to the doctor's supposition or not. When she receives a letter and an inheritance that he left for her on her eighteenth birthday, she sets out for the north, in hopes of discovering the truth about her father. Along the way, she meets Jimson, who has just taken a job organizing the library of the mysterious Mr. Beasley, who may have some dealings with Peculiars himself. Is Mr. Beasley to be trusted, or is he performing unspeakable atrocities in his hidden laboratory? Perhaps Lena would be better off trusting charming lawman Thomas Saltre, who seems to have her best interests at heart -- and may know something about Lena's father, as well. . . .

This story reminded me a little bit of Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede, and a little bit of Chime by Franny Billingsley, so fans of either of those books might like this one. Lena has a few Too Stupid To Live moments, but it's not her defining characteristic. Her growing friendship with Jimson is easily the best part of the story. The ending of this book, while somewhat conclusive, left an opening for a possible sequel -- if so, I look forward to seeing what happens with these characters.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Playing catch-up again

 So, the only way I can possibly manage to catch up on my backlog of books to review is to give some of them a very brief treatment, then (hopefully soon) write longer reviews of the books I have more to say about.  Here are the mini-reviews:

The Spy Princess by Sherwood Smith is another story of a young woman trying to find her place in a country on the brink of revolution. She has loyalties to both sides, and her attempts to help are not always successful -- in fact, they are often detrimental. The action is fairly good, but the characterization could be stronger. Also, I'd probably have enjoyed this more if I hadn't recently read Palace of Stone.


The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede probably deserves more than a mini-review, since I really did enjoy it, but it is the third in the series and hard to describe without spoilers. Suffice it to say that it is definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the first two books. If you're unfamiliar with them, the first book in the series is Thirteenth Child, and it's an alternate history of the Westward Expansion, but with magic. The Far West wraps things up pretty well, so I think it may be the conclusion of the series.


May B. by Caroline Starr Rose is also set on the western frontier, but without magic. It's a verse novel about May, a young girl who dreams of getting her teaching certificate, despite the fact that she finds reading extremely difficult. However, her parents need her to help in another way -- they take her out of school and send her to live as companion to a woman who has recently come west to marry a homesteader and is homesick. When disaster strikes, May learns that she is more capable than anyone might have supposed. There's a lot going on in this book, though the plot itself leans heavily on scenes from some of the Little House on the Prairie books. Readers who can't get enough of those stories should definitely read this one.

(Reviewed from copies borrowed through my library system.)

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal is the sequel to Shades of Milk and Honey, which I reviewed earlier this year.

Newlyweds Jane and Vincent are off to a grand start in their marriage -- the Prince Regent has hired them to create a large-scale glamour for his New Year's Eve celebration. The book begins with a dinner party celebrating their achievements, and sets the tone for the rest of the book. Jane and Vincent, though deeply in love, have many issues to work through. Vincent is used to being a solitary artist, and does not always find it easy to work with another glamourist, even his beloved (and talented) wife -- nor does he find it easy to discuss his feelings, plans, or ambitions. Jane still struggles with deep-seated insecurity, not only over her plain features, but in comparing her own work as a glamourist to that of her husband. With the war seemingly over and Napoleon confined to the island of Elba, Jane and Vincent travel to Belgium to work with another glamourist, an old friend of Vincent's. However, many unexpected events await them in Belgium. . . .

I enjoyed this book, just as I did its predecessor. Jane and Vincent really develop as characters in this book, the portrayal of their marriage is well-balanced, and there's plenty of intrigue and adventure to keep the plot moving along. If you're unfamiliar with this series, I definitely recommend starting with Shades of Milk and Honey, as the characters and magic system are more thoroughly explained in that book. Fans of fantasy and Jane Austen are sure to enjoy this series . . . I only hope that the wait for the next book is not too long!

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy is an interesting blend of fantasy and alternate history. When Janie's family moves to post-WW2 London, she's not at all happy about her new home. Things start to improve for her when she makes friends with Benjamin, a handsome boy from her new school. Benjamin's father is an apothecary . . . a trade which proves more interesting than it first seems. Benjamin's father disappears, leaving Benjamin to protect an ancient book, the Pharmacopeia. Benjamin is skeptical about the merits of the book, which holds recipes for transformation, invisibility, and other improbables -- but it is true that strange and sinister individuals seem to be after the book. What are these people looking for? Do the magical recipes in the book really work? And what does all of this have to do with the Cold War, Communism, and the testing of a new atomic bomb?

I very much enjoyed this book. The characters are well-developed and the action moves at just the right pace. The magic system is fascinating, if not fully explained, and setting it in post-war London adds an interesting flavor to the mix.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

Crucible of Gold is the most recent addition to the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. This series is one of my recent favorites. The best way to describe it is alternate history -- the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons. What really stands out for me, though, is the excellent characterization. The dragons are so . . . dragonly (yes, that is totally a word); they have their own morals and personalities. They manage to be both sympathetic and alien -- I never forget, when reading, that Temeraire is not human.

In Crucible of Gold, Laurence and Temeraire travel from Australia to South America, where they discover another entirely different system of government involving humans and dragons . . . as well as another sneaky plot on the part of Napoleon to upset the balance of power in his favor.

I enjoyed this book more than its predecessor, Tongues of Serpents -- it feels like a return to the earlier books. I'm also pleased to note that, while this book doesn't end in a major cliffhanger, it's obvious that there will be more books in the future. I can hardly wait!

If you haven't read the series yet, but are intrigued, the first book is His Majesty's Dragon -- highly recommended to dragon lovers and history buffs alike!

(Reviewed from a personally purchased electronic copy.)