Review: Swim Home to the Vanished

Swim Home to the Vanished by Brendan Shay Basham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fort Vancouver Regional Library has always been very good at spotlighting unique books for Native American Heritage Month, which is how I found this book and its eye-catching cover art. I’ve never been all that partial to magical realism, but this book made the style work pretty well, all things considered. It’s not a feel good book, most definitely not, but it does a good job of blending surreal dreamlike quality, verbose prose, and a general feeling of dissociation from the world. I’d say that the most powerful aspect for me, though, was how Damien didn’t speak Diné bizaad all that well - I can relate if only because I’m also still largely unable to speak my own little-known ancestral language. But it’s not for nothing that Tommy Orange took note and blurbed this one, so I’ll for sure keep an eye out for new Brendan Shay Basham books in the future.

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Review: The Stone Witch of Florence

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Okay sure, I’m in a reading slump lately for a lot of reasons, but…seriously, how does one write a story set in medieval Florence with plagues and witchy wonders and still make it boring? How? Inquiring minds must know. Unfortunately, despite the prettiness of the packaging, it’s an official DNF from me on this one.

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Review: The Verifiers

The Verifiers by Jane Pek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

They whom I replaced at my current job recommended me this book when they gave a brief visit and explained that they were going to be training as a paramedic. They had this book in hand and sayd they were reading it for a book club. Having read it, I have to say their book club has great taste. It’s an unconventional murder mystery where protagonist Claudia Lin is a sort of PI at a firm that specializes in solving mysteries linked to dating apps - ghosting, missed connections, the works. But the twist…oh yes, a twist very similar to some thar I’ve worked on in my own manuscripts, though not the same way that Pek does (my twists on AI aren’t dating related, and my twist on dating apps is much more magical.) That said, though, Finn Cooper and Claudia Lin could get along pretty well if they were to ever meet. But for now, Finn could be a fan of Claudia’s, especially since in universe there will be an official film adaptation that needs to exist in our world too.

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Review: 888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers

888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Okay I’ll be honest, that triple dose of Don Henley needle drops on the first official page set my expectations a little too high, but that’s even after seeing the low GR rating tempering them. I do love the film nerd and music nerd of it all, don’t get me wrong. Hell, the amusing dreams of conversations with big name directors from America and China alike, these scenes alone would be great little short stories. This book could’ve just as easily fallen into John Green pretension, but despite hitting his same combo platter of favorite tropes, it manages to be a hell of a lot more endearing. But that’s a low bar to clear.

Review: Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Happy Halloween, or: It’s the Great Polecat, Percy Jackson! The new trilogy continues with Percy seeking his second godly letter of recommendation for New Rome University, with his latest task being to house sit for Hecate and her pets while she’s away. Easier said than done when there’s always the temptation to touch something you shouldn’t, and when it’s Grover who does just that, cue another madcap adventure across the magic side of New York as he, Percy, and Annabeth fight to recover what they’ve lost from Hecate’s house. Though this one doesn’t get quite as introspective as last year’s Chalice of the Gods, it’s still an important episode for Percy, not only for how honest he is in the end, but also for the fact that this mission might just help restore Hecate to her former glory. Not exactly prophesied, but then again we all know Percabeth will be at New Rome University together in the end…so the question is, which god will be the one to challenge Percy for his third and final letter of recommendation? Hopefully we find out in a year’s time…

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Review: Dragonsteel Prime

Dragonsteel Prime by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The origin of Sanderson’s brand, this book was a surprise to me, being featured with his Words of Radiance leatherbound Kickstarter - I was only expecting Secret Project #5! But here we get one of Brando Sando’s very first manuscripts, the one he wrote in college at BYU, fresh from the vault as a special treat. Looking at this book, it’s easy to see how it’s written by a much younger hand - especially with the heavy Funetik Aksents, as well as plot details big and small which turn up in Sanderson’s later works (I’m looking at you, Shattered Plains, and bridges.) But as a rare and distinct Sanderson Curiosity, it’s great to see where he got his start, because I can tell you I’ve been doing the same, taking elements of my college manuscript and tinkering with them on other projects too. It gives me just a little more hope for my own future career as a writer…

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Review: Castle of the Cursed

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m amazed this book doesn’t have a higher rating here on GR, because I have to say, it’s some of Romona Garber’s best work. Hella Spanish and hella Gothic, it’s the closest thing I’ve seen yet to a YA version of Crimson Peak, enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if Guillermo del Toro were to snap up the film rights and at least exec produce, if not direct, an adaptation. In which case it would also take some inspiration from Hellboy as well - especially once the true source of the terror is revealed, which also calls to mind a certain video game starring a certain pre transition Elliot Page in mo-cap. The only reason it’s not five stars from me is because the ending is just a bit too off the rails, but it’s too well crafted to get less than a strong four from me.

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