The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

 The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman, 832 pages.

The eighth floor of the dungeon is haunted by the past. Partially in the obvious sense that the floor is made up of memories reconstructed of the last days before the world ended, and partially because old gods and grudges are coming into play at every level. The crawlers are scattered across the globe (or at least representations of the globe) and set to capture monsters to turn into assets to use for a trading card game to fight the dungeon's bosses. The crawlers are mastering working together, and it's almost time to make everyone profiting on their extermination pay. 

This is the sixth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and it's exciting to see many of the overarching plot elements from outside of the dungeon come into play. The mechanics of this floor were interesting, as was seeing the crawlers get around them. These books remain compulsively readable (I always stay up too late when I'm reading one) and I'm having a great time with the series! I expect the next book is where many of the most important plots are going to come to fruition, so I am very excited to get to it!

Of Monsters and Mainframes

 Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove, 407 pages.

Demeter is a dependable spaceship. She has successfully shuttled lots of humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri, and had no complaints. That is, until Dracula sneaks on board, murders all of her humans, and gets her branded a ghost ship. This seems to mark some sort of metaphysical unsealing, because from then on she seems inundated with supernatural creatures determined to kill her humans. Spaceships aren't programmed for vengeance, but Demeter has already had to make lots of adjustments to her code, and she'll make one more to take the people she's gathered closest to her and go kill the monster who started all of this.

This is a really unusual book! It's sort of Dracula meets the League of Extraordinary Gentleman (complete with vampire Mina Murray), with a heavy dose of pulpy sci-fi thrown in for good measure. The first half of this book felt more like a collection of short stories than the unified novel I was expecting, but I enjoyed myself the entire time, so I really can't complain. Similarly, the found family elements seem less prevalent than I expected from the premise, but I really enjoyed all of the characters. This book was a romp! I would definitely recommend it to fans of classic movie monsters. 

The Teller of Small Fortunes

 The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong, 336 pages.

Tao leads a solitary life; she travels from village-to-village with her mule and wagon, telling small fortunes which always come true. Her life may be lonely, but it is freer than the life she is fleeing, and she considers it good enough. That is until a chance run-in with a theoretically reformed thief and a former mercenary pulls her into the search for a lost child. Add a baker with a craving for seeing the world and a grumpy black cat, and Tao starts to keenly feel the companionship she has been lacking. 

This was a very cute, cozy fantasy. I don't think I've read enough books lately about the power of friendship, and this book nestled comfortably into that nook. That being said, there was enough conflict (both external and interpersonal) to feel like the book was going somewhere, and to make me excited to see what came next! This was a phenomenal debut novel, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading Leong's new book (which seems to be set in the same world) next time I'm looking for a cozy book. 

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words

 Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson, 277 pages.

When humans speak Logi it makes them feel drunk, which makes being the translator for the Logi cultural attaché a somewhat more complicated job than many other translating positions. Lydia may not be passionate about this job, but it got her out of her dead-end hometown, and she really likes her employer. So when he is murdered while she is blackout drunk upstairs she has several reasons to be upset. Lydia has to track breadcrumbs not only to clear her own name, but to unravel the increasingly complicated plot she is trapped in.  

Sometimes science fiction books with a really interesting premise fall flat because they don't have much outside of that one great idea. This isn't one of those books. The characters are alive and compelling from the first page, and the mystery is shockingly well constructed. I did not see most of the twists coming, but did find it very satisfying how they fit together. My only real complaint is that the ending felt a little to rushed to properly resolve the great plot it followed. This feels like a great entry point for anyone interested in getting into sci-fi. 

From Bad to Cursed

 From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper, 368 pages.

Isidora Avramov is the child of a family of powerful necromancers, one of the four founding families of the the witchy town of Thistle Grove as a matter of fact. She has a passion for demon summoning, fashion design, and rescuing small animals. When a witch from the rival Thorn family is attacked by a mysterious curse during a Beltane event she is suddenly forced into the role of detective as well, to clear her family's name for the necromantic hex. The Thorn representative assigned to help for the investigation is of course no other than Rowan Thorn, hated nemesis and general good-two-shoes. But as they spend time together the loathing quickly starts to bleed away, leaving room for something new. 

This was a surprisingly good mystery for a romance novel. The plot was interesting, the romance wasn't bad, and the setting was neat. I don't know if this is a book that's worth writing home about, but I enjoyed it. 

On Mars

 On Mars by Sylvain Runberg and Grun, 180 pages.

Earth is dying, and the colonization of Mars is humanity's bright, shining hope. A hope that is propped up by the forced labor and many, many deaths of the many criminals sent to the planet. But there are many factions on Mars with different dreams from the planet, from gangs of escaped prisoners to a new age cult that helps to pacify the work force. 

This comic had such a good premise, but I unfortunately found the execution pretty lackluster. The villains were one-note and predictable, with very little humanity or depth to them. Many of the most interesting concepts were also the least explored, leaving what ends up being mostly stock characters. I also found the end of the book deeply unsatisfying. In a flooded niche of sci-fi, this is not a standout example. 

Ten Days in a Mad-House

 Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly, 160 pages

This book, originally published in 1887, is an impressive work of investigative journalism. Nellie Bly, working for Joseph Pulitzer at the New York World, agreed to go undercover at Blackwell Island, a public asylum for poor women. Bly undertook this task despite knowing very little about the insane, which turned out to be a nonissue when it proved startlingly easy to be admitted. Once she was inside she found horrifying levels of abuse and mistreatment, as well as many women who weren't any crazier than she was. 

Despite being nearly 150 years old, this book was very readable and engaging. The last chapter of this book mentioned that these articles got a million dollars designated to improve mental health services in New York, and reading it I can see why it had that sort of impact. It is also really interesting to see this older version of investigative journalism. Bly has huge amounts of both courage and compassion, and both elevate this to a classic work of nonfiction definitely worth the read. 

Once Upon a Tome

 Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire, 244 pages.

Oliver Darkshire originally wandered into an apprentice role at Sotheran's, one of the oldest bookshops in the world, mostly out of a lack of direction or any skills marketable at a better paying job. But the atmosphere (and strange cast of eccentrics) built up by Sotheran's in its nearly 300 year existence proved intoxicating, and he ended up staying for many years beyond the one he had planned. 

This book was delightful. I listened to the audiobook (read by the author), and it did an excellent job capturing the personal and lighthearted way that Darkshire told his many stories. It felt a little like a friend telling you about their day at work, with a tendency towards humorous exaggeration. This is the kind of book that serves as a window into a very specific profession, and leaves you happy knowing a little more about the world. A fun, light read perfect for book lovers. 

The Saint of Bright Doors

 The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera, 356 pages.

Fetter lives in a world where near-misses at chosen ones are a dime a dozen. He himself was raised as a weapon to kill his own father, a holy, almost divine, figure who's cult stretches across the continent and reaches to the city of Luriat. That is the kind of destiny that gives a man a lot to talk about in group therapy, especially after he chooses to reject his destiny. Here he comes in contact with revolutionaries and radicals, and is pulled into conflicts both political and metaphysical

This book is very hard to describe, partially because there is a lot of craft in how it starts slowly making more sense as you read, satisfactorily answering questions you didn't even know were questions yet to create a cohesive and layered whole. This book is complicated and engrossing, and I found myself very invested in it. It is also sometimes pretty difficult to follow, especially before you know much about how the world works. It reminded me a lot of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (by a fellow Sri Lankan author), but on a more mythic scale. I would definitely recommend this book for someone looking for political intrigue with a mythological twist. 

At Dark, I Become Loathsome

At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca, 240 pages

In the years since his son disappeared and his wife died, Ashley Lutin has become fully absorbed by his grief and guilt. He's embraced body modifications to turn himself into the monster he feels like, and spends a lot of time communicating anonymously online with others who have lost someone. And in quite possibly the most disturbing twist, Ashley's created an illicit business in burying alive suicidal people in a bizarre ritual meant to give them closure without death. But the temptation to not dig them up keeps growing stronger...

This short novel is peppered with disturbing tales told by anonymous internet denizens Ashley interacts with, and while they're definitely disturbing, they don't really add anything to the overall story. I really wish it had stuck with Ashley's odd vocation and mental issues — I think it would've been a much stronger story without the tangents. Not the best horror I've read this year, but certainly thought-provoking.

The Soul of an Octopus

 The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery, 261 pages.

This book was recommended to me by a professor in college, which means I have truly been meaning to read it since approximately 2018, but I am so glad I finally did! This book is in many ways very similar to Secrets of the Octopus, a different book by the same author I reviewed earlier this year, but the focus still felt very different. Where the later published Secrets of the Octopus was more focused on octopus facts, this book has a more emotional focus. It is clear on every page that Montgomery truly loves her subject, and it is hard not to feel the same by the end of this beautiful book.

Which isn't to say that you don't learn a whole lot of factual information about octopuses in this book, it's a treasure trove of information! I learned less because I had recently read Sy Montgomery more National Geographic style book, but I still frequently found myself both amazed and genuinely touched. I would say I recommend this book to octopus fans, but I think anyone who didn't start as one would be by the time they finished. So perhaps a better specific recommendation is for anyone interested in different ways of being alive. 

Work It Out

 Work It Out: A Mood-Boosting Exercise Guide for People Who Just Want to Lie Down by Sarah Kurchak, 208 pages.

This mental health-focused exercise guide for the absolute beginner is aimed mostly at people with mental health struggles, but it's modular piece-by-piece approach would be very helpful to anyone facing barriers to exercise for any reason. More than that, Kurchak's extremely sympathetic and honest book makes it feel possible to try, even if exercise has seemed insurmountable in the past. This book is funny, actionable, and very thorough about presenting choices (as well as the pros and cons of why some options may be better choices for some people). It's very creative in coming up with possibilities that are fun, practical, and approachable. It also includes flailing your arms in despair for a few minutes as an option for a basic way to get moving when everything else feels impossible, which I think really sets the tone for the book.

This is a very approachable, kind guide to exercise for people with no idea where to start, and I'm definitely planning on getting my own copy. 

Goddess of the River

 Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel, 496 pages.

The river Ganga is angry when she is pinned to Earth and forced to flow in a certain way. She is even angrier when she is cursed to live a mortal life and bear mortal children to save the immortal godlings she is so fond of. Human life changes her, and impacts the course of human history as her son Devavrata is left behind, a prince who swears not to take the throne. 

I'm afraid I didn't care much for this Orcs & Aliens selection (although plenty of other members did!). I did not feel that the two timelines served this book well, and mostly served to confuse what was already a somewhat confusing book. I'm also afraid I didn't find the characters very engaging, although I'm sure they were likely more engaging here than in their source material. Overall this was a fine book, but I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone except fans of the Mahabharata. 

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

 A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall, 432 pages

A year ago E. Cidnosin and scholar Henerey Clel disappeared when E's marvelous home beneath the sea was destroyed. The two had begun a correspondence first to discuss natural history, but soon because they are two lonely individuals who come to care about each other very deeply. As E's sister and Henerey's brother begin to reconstruct their siblings' last days (and build their own friendship), they too are quickly pulled into the same mysteries that drew in E and Henerey.

This book is set in such a fascinating world. The planet is almost entirely covered in water, and society has a distinctly Victorian feel and is mostly organized around three colleges, while we get only hints of the apocalyptic event that started this society. This novel is epistolary, told entirely in letters and the odd journal entry. This book reminded me a lot of Victorian Science Fiction, which definitely won't be for everyone, but I personally loved it. I loved all of the characters, and was completely invested in their relationships of every description. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies and also anyone who likes unusual worldbuilding.  

Into the Drowning Deep

 Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, 562 pages.

Seven years ago, Victoria Stewart's sister sailed off to film a mocumentary about mermaids. She never came back. The only thing that returned from the ship Atargatis was a lot of frightening footage that was widely decried as a hoax, bloody footage that appeared to show the crew being devoured by mermaids. Years later, the original film company is seeking redemption (or at least a boost for their damaged reputation), and Victoria still wants closure, so she signs on with dozens of other scientists to try to get proof of mermaids once and for all. They end up finding much more than proof. 

This was a spooky little book about mermaids. Mira Grant (a penname for Seanan McGuire) does a good job building fear on top of a situation whose outcome was more-or-less obvious from the beginning. This is a bloody book, but it doesn't feel like it is purely relying on gore for it's punch (although there are a couple of images that will stick with me). The large cast is well-developed, which makes it hurt more when many of them meet their inevitable ends. I would recommend it generally, but especially for fans of scientists walking themselves into horror. 

Running Close to the Wind

 Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland, 437 pages.

Avra Helvaçi has frankly stupid good luck. The kind of good luck that leaves him drunkenly wandering into a secure government building and stealing a state secret that's worth more than many countries, just to see if he can. Unfortunately, once he has it he has to figure out how not to get killed over it. Enter pirate Captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār, his ex who is rudely not even a little excited to see him, but nevertheless is willing to help work out how to sell the secret and make them both legends, even if it means sailing into dangerous seas. 
This is really the epitome of a fun fantasy pirate adventure. There's giant turtles, sea serpents, a giant stone skull, making fools of stuffy government officials, and even a plot relevant cake competition. This book knows exactly what it wants to be, and fulfills it to a tee. It's an extremely fun summer read, with very fun characters. My only major gripe is that the ending feels a little bit sudden and unsatisfactory, I feel like this novel would have been improved by an epilogue. 

The Book of (More) Delights

 The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay, 304 pages.

This follow-up to Gay's The Book of Delights comes five years after the first volume, and follows the exact same formula. Poet Ross Gay handwrites a new essay everyday about something that delighted him that day. Some of these are things that are very obviously delightful, such as the joy of shared fruit and tiny dogs, and some of them are things that take a unique perspective to find delight in darkness.  

I found this volume a little less focused then the first one, but still (if you'll forgive me the pun) delightful. I continue to find Gay's perspective inspirational, to the point where I've decided to try this project for myself this year. I do think there was a little more darkness in this one, to the point where it was sometimes easy to miss where the delight was supposed to be in the entry. That being said, even the less delight-full entries were still solid essays that were good to read. I would recommend this to fans of the first book, but I do think I would still recommend starting with that one.  

P.S. I love this book cover so much. Please take a moment to admire it.

Seek You

Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness by Kristen Radtke, 352 pages.

This graphic novel attempts to trace the broad and winding path of loneliness in all of it's manifestations through American history, and does a remarkably good job. This book includes elements of memoir, but also history, cultural analysis, and scientific studies. This is an extremely thorough book that never loses its emotional core under generous amounts of fact. 

I am really impressed by the execution of this book. It works in harmony with it's medium, and the images definitely make the words stronger, while still containing enough text to convey a lot of information clearly. I would definitely recommend this book widely, even to people who don't read many graphic novels. 

The Gate of the Feral Gods

 The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman, 589 pages.

This is the fourth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, you can read my review of the first one here. After the crawlers started getting a little too unified at the end of the fourth floor, the powers-that-be decided that this floor they would be randomly split apart into hundreds of bubbles, each with four castles that must be defeated before anyone would be allowed to leave the bubble and meet up with anyone else. While less complicated than the train puzzles of the 4th floor, nothing is ever easy on Dungeon Crawler World, and Carl will have to rely on the low level and minimally confident people in the bubble with him to get out alive. 

I continue really enjoying watching this series build on itself. Each floor presents something similar enough to the rest of the series to be a satisfying continuation, while also being new and different enough to present really interesting problems. On top of that, events outside of the dungeon are becoming increasingly visible and relevant. I don't know if this is my favorite book in the series, it's a little simple compared to some of the others, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Sunrise on the Reaping

 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, 387 pages.

Haymitch Abernathy makes the most of a hard life: doing chores for is Ma, spending time with his girl, and hoping not to make enough trouble to be noticed by the peacekeepers. Then he makes himself too visible and ends up in the 50th Hunger Games, sentenced to fight to the death with 49 other kids. Haymitch is determined not to let them turn him into their propaganda, but some things are so much bigger than him.

This was a very solid edition to the Hunger Games series, and I liked it much better than the last prequel. It was very thematically consistent, and felt sharp and cutting. Collins was considering very literally the political principles of David Hume, in a way that still made a compelling novel. This book did, however, suffer from a problem common in prequels of popular series. It felt like it was filled with as many characters from the original books as possible, which often creates connections that strain believability to believe weren't mentioned in the original source material. That being said, none of these cameos cause any problems at all within the novel itself, and I almost like this book more in isolation than as part of a series. I would definitely recommend this novel for fans of the original series, but also for anyone who's looking for some less than subtle criticism of tyrannical government.