Tough Mothers: Amazing Stories of History’s Mightiest Matriarchs by Jason Porath

Tough Mothers: Amazing Stories of History’s Mightiest Matriarchs by Jason Porath

My Rating: ★★★★

When I heard that Jason Porath had another book coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Tough Mothers, which focuses on badass mothers in history, is a bit different because it only includes women who were mothers and it does not include anyone whose existence cannot be confirmed. Like Rejected Princesses, Tough Mothers has color coded trigger warnings at the beginning of each chapter so readers can decide if they will be reading the chapter. Each chapter also lets you know if it has mature content in it so that people who are reading the book with their children can skip chapters based on their kid’s age groups.

Starting each chapter with beautiful artwork, Porath has done it again and provided a wonderful book that also serves as a starting for anyone looking to learn about badass women in history that they have not heard of. From there, one can do their own research and learn about these badass ladies. He also notes when there’s conflicting stories about the person in question and urges readers to continue their own research after putting down his book. As a history buff, I enjoy when he notes some of the reasons why rumors were spread about each person and why some may have been selected to record in history.

Porath’s is skilled at mixing history, humor, and imagery, which is a clever way to catch reader’s interest. I also like that he talks a bit about the inspiration behind the artwork at the very end of almost every chapter. As a former art major, it’s always interesting to read about what an artist drew from, and in this case, what artistic liberties he took and why.

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cora Lee is one of the top resurrectionists in New York. Anatomists are desperate for cadavers and are willing to pay a pretty penny for the newly dead. Living a double life, she scouts her latest specimens as Cora by day and digs their bodies up by night as her identical twin brother, Jacob. There’s more to her profitable job than just money. Cora has a secret: she was born with two hearts. She wants to make sure that her finger is on the latest gossip among the resurrectionists so that she knows when they’re looking for her. Sadly, that time has come. Someone is murdering people with medical anomalies and Cora’s now a wanted woman.

This is my second book from Lydia Kang and she is absolutely brilliant. One of the things that I liked about A Beautiful Poison is that it’s well researched, and The Impossible Girl is no different. It’s clear that Kang did a lot of research into the era and the history of resurrectionists, or grave robbers, early on. It really set the tone and helped me feel like I was right beside Cora as the story unfolded. There’s even an extra bit of info about the era and the inspiration behind the story at the end of the book, which I love.

The story and its characters are extremely compelling, which left me wishing that I could binge it every time I had to put the book down. Cora is such a complex character who is fun to follow. Born with two hearts, she was raised as Jacob until her caretakers decided it was time for her family to believe he died. Once they made the move, she took on a new life as a resurrectionist until she made enough money to retire, move, and start over. Living a double life, Cora is able to move through society as a man and a woman. I thought it was interesting that Cora preferred to live as Jacob, but I understood her reasons. As a woman, she’s expected to be light of heart, not have complex interests, and eventually settle down. As a man, she can express herself however she wants, is free to have complex interests, and freely move through town until there’s a price on her head. In the mid-1800s, I don’t blame her for preferring to move among society as Jacob.

There are many fascinating characters throughout the story. Dr. Blackwell is a character that I wish we saw more of because she’s a doctor in this era, which is frowned upon. I love how her relationship with Cora unfolds and how she eventually became immersed in her predicament. Cora’s cousin, Suzette Cutter, surprised me once we got to know her. Cora’s team of resurrectionists are a fun bunch who truly care for her as much as she cares for them. Then there’s Cora’s self-made family, Charlotte, Leah, and Alexander, who seemingly love her both too much and not enough in their own ways. There isn’t a single character that doesn’t leave an impression.

I cannot praise this book enough. It has fascinating characters, a compelling mystery, and an overall wonderful story that has left me a big fan. I’m a mystery buff and I love the way that Kang writes her mysteries. She stunned me with a major reveal yet again! I called some things and figured out some plot elements before they were fully revealed, but I definitely did not see the big twist coming. One of my favorite things to do is reread a story that left me blindsided, so I’m excited to reread this in the future.

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

My Rating: ★★

It’s Sophie’s lucky day. The Prodigium Council has put a spell on her that prevents her from using magic right when she needs them the most. Sad, worn out, and defenseless, Sophie makes her way to the Brannicks so that she can meet up with her mother only to discover a lot more than she bargained for at this unconventional safe haven. You see, they think that Sophie is going to be one powerful and badass demon that will prevent all hell from breaking loose in the budding magical war. The only problem? She’s completely powerless… or is she?

I absolutely love this series, so it’s sad for me to say that this installment was a bit disappointing, especially when compared to the others. I still enjoyed the story; it just wasn’t as good as the others. Sophie’s sarcastic remarks seemed out of place for a good portion of the book because it was laid on a little too thick. I know that it’s how she protects herself while also being her go-to defense when she’s nervous, but it was just a bit too much this time around. She could’ve been a little more serious and thrown around less sarcastic remarks. The term “awesome” kept taking me straight of the story as well for some reason, but it might just be me.

There were some aspects of the story that were a little drawn out when it could’ve been shorter so that the battle to come could’ve been fleshed out more than it was. There were sections that went on for too long while important sections were condensed. I wish that there was more of a focus on the shorter but more important aspects of the story, but I’ll live. I also wish that the love triangle was resolved earlier in the book since it had already run its course by the end of the second installment.

That said, I did enjoy the story. I loved finally meeting the Brannicks and learning about their background as well as seeing some of unlikely characters joining forces for the greater good. It was interesting to see these characters interact with one another and seeing them struggle with their beliefs and what they know is the right thing. This installment also touched on more mythical aspects of the world Sophie lives in, so that was nice to see. The story is resolved by the end, but I do see that there’s one more installment, so I am interested in seeing how that plays out.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

My Rating: ★★★★

Tristran Thorn lives in Wall, which is a small town where he’s lived his life as the odd one out. He doesn’t mind since it’s all he’s ever known. One day, Tristran works up the nerve to ask the woman of his dreams to marry him. This young lady is not interested in him, but she does jokingly take him up on his offer to marry him if he brings her back the star they watched fall from the sky. It is this moment that sends him on the journey he was destined to take past the stone wall into a land full of magic in wonder. It is here where he discovers himself and falls in love with a fallen star.

I saw the movie adaptation for the first time not long ago. One of my friends told me that it’s based on a book and I knew I had to check it out. I absolutely loved it! It’s rare for me to like a movie adaptation more than the book it’s based on, but the book is just as lovely but somehow just a smidge less magical. That said, the book does contain different magical elements that was fun to read as Tristran traveled. It’s also a little darker than the movie, which is pretty interesting but not surprising since it is a Neil Gaiman story.

I loved following Tristran on his journey and watch him grow as a person. He starts out as a stubborn but caring young man who is blinded by what he desires, which is how he ends up taking off to find a fallen star. By the end, he is a solid man whose eyes have been opened about the world as well as who he is and how his actions can impact others. I also loved Yvaine, the fallen star, who is outspoken, kind, funny, and an all-around delightful character. She’s also different from her movie counterpart because she’s a lot worldlier and is aware of what being knocked out of the sky means.

It was also interesting seeing all the magical creatures and elements once Tristran left Wall. There were magical animals, many different mystical beings, and of course, witches. Tristran himself is a mystical being, so it was fun to see him come into his own and unknowingly embrace parts of himself that he didn’t know existed. All in all, it’s a wonderful book and I highly recommend checking it out.

Poison Study (Poison Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

My Rating: ★★★★★

On the day of her execution, Yelena is offered a second chance at life: she can either become the Commander of Ixia’s food taster and live on borrowed time or get on with the execution as scheduled. After deciding to become a food taster, she undergoes training and quickly discovers that being poisoned by food meant to kill the Commander is the least of her worries. She has powerful enemies with seemingly endless resources and they are hell-bent on making sure she dies. Just when she thinks her plate is full, she becomes aware of her growing magical abilities, which wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t an offense punishable by death in Ixia.

I first read this series about a decade ago and I love it now as much as I did back when I first discovered it. The story drew me in as much as it did a back when I first read it and I can honestly say that this book has aged well. Yelena is such a wonderful character with a horrible past that we slowly learn as the story unfolds. She’s a survivor who is quick on her feet, selfless, and fiercely loyal to those who earn her trust. While her decisions don’t always make sense, she usually means well and any negative actions weigh heavily on her mind even if she did what she had to so she can continue to survive.

In addition to Yelena, there’s an array of wonderful characters that I loved seeing again. It was fun to revisit Valek with a new perspective many years after I last read the series. Then there’s the loyal, hilarious, and rambunctious duo, Janco and Ari. I always thought I’d be friends with them if they were real people. There are quite a few characters that I looked forward to seeing again as well, such as Maren, Irys, and Commander Ambrose. It’s lovely how even the minor characters have layers that are peeled away as the story continues. There are so many characters that are truly a delight that I think everyone can find at least one to love.

The way that the magical aspect of this world slowly unfolds is also interesting. At first, we learn why Commander Ambrose outlawed magic. As the story continues, we see signs of magic and encounter magicians on opposite sides of the spectrum. Plus, there are signs that Yelena possesses at least some magic abilities that become increasingly noticeable as time goes on. I look forward to continuing my reread and checking out the newer books in the series that came out some time later.

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Diamond Book Distributors through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Marjorie feels invisible. Since her mom died, she’s been in charge of the family business while her dad is depressed and in seclusion upstairs. At home, she faces an array of customers including a few vicious ones and a man who is trying to sabotage her family’s business. At school, she’s lonely and often the target of a few mean girls. Feeling out of place in life, a ghost named Wendell makes his way into her home. After accidentally causing more harm than good, he quickly becomes close with Marjorie and makes her feel like she’s not alone.

This is such a sweet and heartwarming story about a girl trying to find her place in the world while Marjorie mourns her mother. There’s depression, loneliness, difficulty finding your place in school, being targeted by classmates, and working hard all while not seeing results. These are all realistic things that occur every day, and we watch her and her family go through them as the light finally starts to shine through at the end of the tunnel. Not only does Marjorie befriend ghosts, but the people around her start to show support in their own ways. It’s light enough that it still makes a great story for kids, but heavy enough that it’s meaningful for all age groups who read it.

I love the way the ghost world is presented. All ghosts are sheets and they have a whole world with rules, support meetings, and various activities and jobs that are different but similar to the living world. I also love the way that the world of the living and the dead come together to help and befriend one another. It is such a beautiful story combined with gorgeous artwork that I can see people from all age groups loving it.

The One Hundred Nights of Hero (Early Earth #2) by Isabel Greenberg

The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg

My Rating: ★★★★★

In the Empire of Migdal Bavel, there is a woman named Cherry who lives with her maid and love of her life, Hero. Together, the pair concocts a plan to outwit Cherry’s husband, Jerome, and his friend, Manfred. You see, Jerome has challenged his good friend. If Manfred can seduce Cherry in 100 nights, he can have Jerome’s castle, so Hero distracts him by telling gripping tales each night.

This is such a beautiful book full of tales and women empowering women. Between the artwork and the stories, I was sad whenever I had to put the book down because I just wanted to keep reading. Each story was wonderful and compelling as well as detailing women standing together, sharing stories, and helping each other. Even when these characters stood against each other, it was fun to see the narrator note that she didn’t like telling stories where women were against each other, but it is how the story unfolded. It’s such a compelling book that made me feel like I’ve been inducted into The League of Secret Story Tellers. I don’t want to say too much because I’m afraid I might spoil the story, but know that I’m raving about it.