This is likely the end of regular posting here for a while, since books have begun arriving for the 2017 Notable Books List and I don't think I can think about books as I normally would to review when I'm reading them for the purpose of deciding if they Notable or not. Hopefully it won't be until January before I read something not for Notables, another committee, or my book club again. But I'm not holding my breath.

The fey arrange Blackthorn's escape from prison and imminent death on the conditions that she use her skill only for good, that she help anybody who asks, and that she not seek vengeance against the man who destroyed her life. Accompanied by Grim, another escaped prisoner, she does as the fey said and travels north to Dalriada. They find a home their in the land of a young prince, soon to be married, whose fiancee has undergone an inexplicable transformation.

This first Blackthorn and Grim book has many elements in common with Marillier's other books: it's fantastic old Ireland/Scotland setting, its incorporation of folklore. It differs from her other series in that it's more a mashup of historical fantasy and mystery than of historical fantasy and romance: the story is very much about figuring out what happened to Lady Flidais, not about Prince Oran's and her relationship, and if there's to be any romance between Blackthorn and Grim, it's not in this book.

As for the basics of what happened to Lady Flidais, that can be seen a mile away, but finding out how the characters will find out and what detail will allow it to be undone is engrossing.

There is an ongoing condemnation of men in power who use it to abuse women that I found appealing, however, there's also an occasional unfortunate leaning towards slut-shaming. I would probably be more bothered by it if I hadn't read the rest of Marillier's books and known that there were quite a few of them with examples of characters "anticipating their wedding night" (which seems to have been her favorite term for it for quite some time, as I remember) without it being considered a major failing. It's definitely presented as one quite frequently in this book. But because I have read, for example, Son of the Shadows, I stop and consider that a certain character who is described as being a bit wild is not condemned for that reason by anyone. Everybody seems both to assume that Blackthorn and Grim are lovers and to remain unshocked by that. The argument one character makes that a young woman who was imprisoned and raped might have encouraged the man because she had another sweetheart is clearly presented as the odious victim-blaming that it is. All of the characters for whom chastity until marriage is presented as an essential quality are young men and women for whom said marriage is an important part of securing their future; perhaps it's more a matter of depicting what would have been a practical necessity. In any case, there's enough wiggle room for me to overlook it in a way I might not from an author with whom I was less familiar.

The summary of Tower of Thorns sounds like the series will continue in its unique historical fantasy mystery blend, and I eagerly look forward to it.

Overall: B

Christian Trent, the Marquess of Ashford, was instrumental in Judith Worth's father and brother being found guilty of treason. Her father committed suicide, her brother was transported and is presumed dead, and Judith has never forgiven Christian, who was her brother's best friend, spent summers with their family, and once asked her to marry him. But mow she needs somebody who can help apply some pressure in a financial matter, and although she hopes he will send a servant, he responds to her request for help in person.

This first book in the Worth saga is full of everything that makes me love Courtney Milan. Unusual, but plausible, characters. Judith has held life together for her brother and sister for eight years and set aside money for their futures by selling clockwork designs. (BTW: I think clockwork is actually more involved in the plot of this book that in Wanted: One Scoundrel.) Christian has his own demons, concealed behind a sense of humor that usually results in exactly the wrong joke made at exactly the wrong time. Like all of Milan's heroes, he's the supportive type. They don't rescue the heroine; they just get her back while she handles the matter herself. And as always, the dialogue is witty and sharp and utterly ruins most other authors for me.

And - that cliffhanger? For the next full length book in the series, when I'm still waiting for the novella that's supposed to be forthcoming, soon? What will I do until late 2016?

Overall: A

A Fashionable Indulgence is the first full book in the Society of Gentlemen series, although it is preceded by a short story, "The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh." Those characters appear in this book but you won't be missing any important information if you don't read it first.

Harry Gordon has been on the run since he was twelve. His radical parents instigated a riot, which resulted in warrants for all of their arrests, and he lived in hiding on the Continent until their death. Now he's back in England working in a subversive book store with an illegal printing press when he finds out that his father's family, the Vanes, have searched for him out of need for an heir.

Julius Norreys is a fashionable young dandy whose cold facade hides emotional scars of war. He's charged with teaching Harry everything he will need to know to present himself as an aristocrat, but Harry turns out to be just what he needs to teach him to live again.

This was exactly the book that I needed after the disappointment of Wanted: One Scoundrel. It is at least as much politics as romance, and of course a Pygmalion story as well. There is a lot going on in this book, and some of the published reviews that I read felt that the romance got bogged down. I disagree. If you are as into the history in historical romance as you are the romance, then read this book. If you want acknowledgement in your gay historical romance that the characters could be arrested but don't want angsting about their sexuality, read this book.

​Basically, unless you want a wallpaper historical, read this book.

Overall: A

Some months ago I developed a severe need to read suffragette steampunk. Jenny Schwartz's Bustlepunk Chronicles was what I could find.

Esme Smith needs a male face for her political party who can represent her views in gentlemen's clubs. Her intention is to hire a charming scoundrel who is unknown in the area and whom, on her pay, can devote himself to the cause full time. Her uncle recommends American Jed Reeves, and although he is actually an inventor and not a con man, he is intrigued by her and her ideas, and so he accepts her proposition.

This was... better than nothing? It is a novella and the beginning of a series, so perhaps I expect too much, but there's less suffrage and less steampunk than I was hoping for. The plot isn't so much about Esme's political plans as about an opponent of them attempting to court and then blackmail her into marriage as a way to get his hands on her inheritance. Setting Jed up as her spokesman/puppet was really just a method of introducing them to each other, not something that actually involved them pursuing any goals. They could have met through any method and it would have made no difference. And although Jed is an inventor and there were occasional scenes of him and others geeking out over some interesting device, only at the climax of the story did any of them have any impact on the plot.

I'm unsure about reading the slightly longer second in the series, Courting Trouble. It's possible that this was more of an introduction to the characters and both the suffrage and the steampunk will play a more prominent part in the next installment. On the other hand, I read the first page on Amazon and it has Jed acting rather offensively alph-holish, which is not what I want for an alleged hero, especially when he's supposed to be a supporter of legal rights for women.

If anybody knows of any other suffragette steampunk, please tell me about it. I mean, this can't be the only one, right?

Overall: C

Fearless is book three in the Pax Arcana series. John Charming, Knight and werewolf, is reunited with Sig (a Valkyrie) and the gang from the first book in the series to investigate a supernatural attack against a college student. What they find leads them into an underground, supernatural fighting ring.

We didn't see much of most of these characters except John in the second book in the series, and it's good to have them back. Sig and her friends would have been completely capable of carrying a series before John hit the scene. The whole cast is interesting and most are quite thoroughly developed. I only say most because there are one or two who are more sidekick than lead material. It's refreshing that the action is not all about John.

But when it is about John, it is of course brilliant. John has lived a long time and studied his field well. This series draws from a wide variety of mythology and folklore, and John's explanations pull readers into the world easily. He's also just the right sort of wiseass to anchor this kind of the series, but he is an adult. He's a living contradiction: werewolf and Knight, loaner and pack animal. But in his way, he has his act together. I eagerly await the next in the series.

Overall: A

This is the final book in the Pink Carnation series, and in it the Pink Carnation herself takes center stage teaming up with Jack Reid, AKA the Moonflower, formerly an agent for the French, to rescue the Queen of Portugal. In the modern plot thread, preparations for Colin and Eloise's wedding are disrupted by some contemporary spy intrigue.

First of all, I found the Eloise and Colin chapters more disruptive than usual. I could just have particularly little patience for the various nonsense around weddings. However, I did enjoy the revelation of just what the modern day secret agent connections that have been hinted at throughout the series really are, so that wasn't a total loss.

The Pink Carnation and the Moonflower's mission was fairly straight forward, with the emphasis being on their relationship. I do rather miss the fact that the novella "The Pink Carnation in Love" was never completed, but Willig incorporates what's happened to Jane since we saw her last into the story in a way that isn't info-dumpy and is still easy to follow. And for a book that is primarily driven by the romance rather than by dealing with external obstacles, Willig also manages avoiding falling into the trap of creating more drama within the relationship than necessary. When Jack finds out that Jane has been withholding the information that she knows his father and sister, he is momentarily thrown, but it doesn't become a huge thing.

And spoilers in the next paragraph:



I was also pleasantly surprised that Jane and Jack carry on their espionage career after they marry. With Willig having said several times over the years that Jane's story would have to be the last one in the series, I thought she meant that Jane would have to settle down and be a proper early 19th century wife once she got a love story of her own, and I've often been annoyed at how many of the heroines have vanished from the field after their book was over (although a few of put in appearances closer to the action to conclude the series). Knowing that the Pink Carnation and the Moonflower's exploits continued together from Russia to Brazil makes me happy.

This was a far better conclusion to the series than I thought that I could expect, great fun by any standard:

Overall: A

This review is based on an ARC I received from the publisher at ALA Annual last summer and then didn't have time to read for seven months.

Killing Pretty by Richard Kadrey is the latest Sandman Slim book. James Stark, AKA Sandman Slim, is back in LA. Indefinitely so, since he's no longer able to use his ability to walk through shadows. That doesn't mean his life has gotten any less strange, as his latest case is investigating the murder of Death.

Sandman Slim is the grittiest, most truly noir urban fantasy series that I've ever read, and it shows no sign of losing speed. The first line of this edition is "I break his wrists so that I don't have to break his neck." That tells you everything you need to know about the tone. Big things have changed for Stark. He has a boss, his girlfriend and partner in kicking ass and taking names has a new face. And of course, he actually has to travel through space like an ordinary human. Maybe that's part of what keeps the series fresh, but it certainly hasn't moved it any further away from its appeal. This is still brutal, sometimes gruesome, often darkly hilarious fun.

Overall: A