Category: Book Review

Crystal King’s Feast of Sorrow

I’ve chatted on here before about my interest in ancient Rome. I love me some good historical fiction set in ancient Rome, the worse behaved the Romans are the better. Those of you who know me well know that I even named my dog after a Roman emperor. (Don’t judge.) But I digress.

A couple of years ago fellow book blogger Vanessa (foodinbooks), who has a magnificent blog about books and food, recommended the book Feast of Sorrow to me precisely because of its ancient Roman setting. I just now got around to reading it, and I only regret not reading it sooner. Thanks so much for the fantastic recommendation, Vanessa! (Also thanks so much to my boss Julie for adding this book to the collection at my request.)

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Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: Italy

Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In September, we’re in Italy.

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Book Buzz: Adventure Memoirs, Rural Noir, and YA Romance + Zombies

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For September, we’re looking at a heartbreaking memoir about adventure gone wrong, a series that brands itself as rural noir, and a YA romance comedy that also features zombies.

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Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: Botswana

Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In August, we’re in Botswana.

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Book Buzz: Pilgrim Brides, Medieval Amateur Detectives, and Mysterious Relics

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For August, we’re looking at a family saga of romance and American history, medieval murder, and a new look at a very old historical debate, the Shroud of Turin.

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Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: Fantasy

Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In July, we were
scheduled to be in New Zealand (as a nod to the Lord of the Rings series) but then came a
quarantine (more about that later–poor Penelope). All of this to show that escape is more
important than ever in our COVID-filled world, so let’s talk about some newer fantasy novels instead! 🙂

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Discussion Post: Favorite Fantasy

Fantasy

For the summer program theme of “Imagine We’re Not in Berryville Anymore,” we’ve been celebrating all manner of speculative fiction, including myths and fantasy. Of course, one of the most appealing things about fantasy is the means of escape it provides to another world–and the sheer amount of imagination that fantasy writers use in creating their worlds.

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Book Buzz: Bee Blankets, Arkansas Mysteries, and Shirley Jackson

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For July, we’re looking at a haunting work of historical fiction about the Mexican Revolution, some snappy but gritty mysteries from an Arkansas writer, and a biography of an offbeat classic horror writer.

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Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: Mythology/Fairy Tales

Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In June, we’re in London, but that’s mainly just a Harry Potter tie-in, so in honor of the Imagine Your Story summer reading theme, I’ll be highlighting books that evoke or engage with myths and fairy tales from around the world.

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Book Buzz: Bad Days, Orc Princesses, and Cold Cases

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. Usually, I profile a sample of various random new books, but this time around, I noticed 3 books that are all the first in a series, and the summer is as good a time as any to try a new series. Starting a new one might be a wiser move than what I’m doing–rereading an old favorite (George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire . . . because I like to suffer. 😉 )

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