Roots of Madness

Roots of Madness by Stephanie Williams with art by Letizia Cadonici (2026) 144 pages

I am still reading, but I have been struggling to find time to write for the blog here. Roots of Madness is a brand new book that I read in just a couple days, and I had to share my excitement. The synopsis of this book with supernatural horror mixed with  a historical setting inspired by the life of Madam CJ Walker intrigued me. I met the author Stephanie Williams at a recent comic con and have been waiting for this trade paperback collecting the six comic issues into a single book. This year, Williams was nominated for an Eisner Award for writing this and other comics. 

Black generational knowledge about natural medicines have been passed down to character Etta Knight. She grows to love botany and chemistry. Like Frankenstein, she is full of ambition and wants to push the bounds of science despite many people warning her to be cautious. A mysterious Meridian Fellowship offers resources and opportunities to advance her knowledge. "Some knowledge takes time to carry," but Etta feels she is ready. A special plant with healing properties seems to hold a lot of promising applications. Little does she know there is an alien hivemind at work trying to control the situation. I love the art throughout this graphic novel. Many characters' eyes are penetrating in various colors. And the alien tendrils have such a creepiness.

How To Seal Your Own Fate

How To Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin (2025) 309 pages

Like the first book in the Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, How to Solve Your Own Murder, this book alternates between the past (1960s) and the present day. In the first book, Annie solved the murder of her mother's aunt Frances, a woman Annie never met, and was bequeathed the estate that Frances and her husband had lived on, Gravesdown Hall.

Annie is now trying to figure out how to fit into the village better, and is approached by Peony Lane, an old woman who had given Frances a fateful fortune years ago. When Peony Lane is later found murdered in Gravesdown Hall, Annie and her friend from London try to solve this case too. Meanwhile, Annie is learning from Frances's diaries about another murder that happened in the past, one which has some connections to the present.

The characterizations are mostly good, although a few are a bit stereotypical. Also, the wrap-up of the murder was a bit too drawn out for my taste. 

There is another book in this series now and I'm a bit torn whether to read it. However, some ureconciled tidbits in Annie's life are tempting me, so it'll probably happen eventually.

Muñeca

 

 Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez, 176 pages.

When Natalia Fuentes hears about Violeta Miramontes strange illness, which left her totally paralyzed shortly after her marriage, she recognizes immediately that it is not a disease, but a curse. She gets herself hired as Violeta's caregiver, hoping to use her long abandoned witchcraft to break her curse and earn some much needed cash. But once Nat is in the house, she quickly learns that things are darker and more complicated than she had guessed, and her growing feelings for the trapped Violeta, rendered into a convenient doll, don't make anything easier. 

I was really impressed by this book. It was creepy and gothic, and it shines in the "metaphor made literal" that gothic literature is so good at. It handled nuance well, Violeta comes from very old Spanish colonial money and Nat is Latina, a dynamic which I haven't seen explored much, and which the setting in 1968 Oakland really highlights. This is Gómez's debut, and I'm really excited to see what else she writes!

Dreadful

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis, 349 pages

I blogged about this book a couple years back when it first came out, and looking back at that post, I feel like it sums it up pretty well. I still dig the book, and I enjoyed chatting about it with the Orcs & Aliens last month. It's funny, it's quirky, it's full of garlic and fun. Highly recommend!

We Are Gathered Here Today

We Are Gathered Here Today by Bobby Finger, 320 pages

Finlay, Elaine, and Jacque have attended zillions of weddings, and can only make it through the cringiest moments by saving them until their traditional Hour of Disrespect, in which the three friends gather to complain about the most obnoxious little elements of the day. But now, Fin is heading to Elaine's elaborate Texas wedding weekend, where he's been asked to serve as the officiant. When he arrives, he's newly engaged himself, though still unsure on the concept of marriage, and has NOTHING written for his speech. Thrown with Jacque into the "queer table" of guests and plenty of free drinks, Fin must navigate the increasingly unhinged weekend while also navigating his feelings and writing a speech.

I picked this one up hoping that it fall somewhere in the range of The People We Hate at the Wedding meets The Wedding People, with lots of quirky characters and dry humor. And it kind of is... but it also felt a bit clique-y. Like, I don't know that I would've continued hanging out with this assigned group if they annoyed me as much as they seemed to annoy Fin and Jacque. It was OK, but nothing fantastic.

Listen for the Lie

 Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera (2024), 336 pages

On the surface, it appeared that Lucy was living the dream. Handsome husband, nice house, beginning of a great career. All that came to a crashing halt when she was found bloodied on the side of the road with no memory of what happened and her best friend dead. She thought she escaped this nightmare after moving away, but it came crashing back as a podcaster comes to town and she is forced to return and confront what actually happened that night. 

This was a fun, twisty mystery that kept you guessing until the end. If you can, you must listen to the audiobook. The podcast portions were done perfectly and, at first, confused me as I thought my phone had actually switched to one of my podcasts. Were there a few holes and unbelievable bits? Yep, but it was entertaining and worth the listen. 

Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta

Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannaham (2022), 352 pages 

After reading Sarah's review, I wanted to check this book out. It follows Carlotta on her brief parole stint as she rediscovers the world she was forced to leave behind twenty odd years ago. It is told through both first- and third-person narrative that can be a bit disjointing at first, but you will get into the swing of it. Overall, I enjoyed the book and Carlotta's surprisingly optimist look on life despite the unjust and horrifying things that have happened to her. My only quibble is sometimes I felt Carlotta was a just a bit to prescient about today's issues, especially for someone who has been locked away for such a long time. 

September Totals

 Jan: 4 books, 1315 pages

John: 1 book, 391 pages

Kara: 15 books, 5636 pages

Kevin: 3 books, 1224 pages

Margaret: 5 books, 1441 pages

Regan: 8 books, 2147 pages

Sarah: 3 books, 976 pages

Tracey: 8 books, 3163 pages

 Total: 47 books and 16,293 pages

Blood Over Bright Haven

 

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang, 428 pages.

Sciona has never had the makings of a proper Tiranish lady, instead dedicating all of herself to becoming the first female mage admitted to the High Magistry. Unfortunately, all of her brilliance doesn't protect her from the slights and sexism of her colleagues, including being assigned a Kwen janitor instead of a proper assistant. But Thomil wasn't always a janitor, and his experiences with the world outside of Tiran combine with Sciona's once-in-a-generation talent have the potential to shake the very foundations of the city of Tiran, God's Bright Haven.

This was a great book, but I can't talk about most of the parts that hit me like a gut punch without lessening their impact. This is a fantastic and fantastical exploration of colonialism and exploitation that feels grounded and real enough to keep all of it's impact in a fantasy setting. Sciona is a great protagonist for the story, complicated and deeply flawed. I think this book is what I wanted Babel by R.F. Kuang to be. I can't wait to discuss this one with Orcs & Aliens next week!  

The Castle

 The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men by Jon Ronson, 336 pgs. © 2026

This book was mysterious, hilarious and deeply disconcerting. One night, the author's son is invited to a party at a mysterious castle in New England owned by an eccentric millionaire, only to find the party is more of a dry run for a reality show. The evening is a bust but the author is intrigued by the eccentric millionaire and interviews him--but his questions only lead to more questions. What follows is Jonson's thoughtful critique on what has happened to men in our culture as he interviews other men who have become unmoored in society due to the changing times. Because of this, Jonson argues, men are increasingly trying to use social media to create fantasy worlds or present themselves in ways that are synchronous to ideas of traditional masculinity. But these worlds are built on sand, as Jonson displays throughout the book--divorce, public shamings, unfulfilled potential, lost friends and opportunities, federal investigations--the list goes on. Jonson recounts his now terminated friendship with TV writer Graham Linehan, who fell into adopting anti-trans rhetoric after a particular episode of his show, The IT Crowd, was deemed transphobic. Linehan, a man at the top of his field, hit the gas on those new found beliefs which consumed his life, resulting in losing his marriage and future work. Jonson's question is one we all ask ourselves everyday--why? I haven't really picked a favorite book for 2026 yet, but this is definitely a contender.