Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818), Illustrations by Philippe Munch, 253 pgs. 

You have heard the story:
Victor Frankenstein, through months of restless study, uncovers the secret to reanimating human flesh. He brings to life a being of his own morbid creation and, after looking upon the gruesome face of what he has done, he flees from the monster. As Frankenstein flees his shame, he only inflicts more pain upon himself and those he loves most. Try as he might to outrun his past, it always finds a way to catch up with him.

It is always interesting to read the original version of a tale so widely known and parodied. Although the language is out of date and the prose is a bit lengthy, the overall story remains captivating, and the different narrators offer interesting points of comparison. Mary Shelley has truly created a story that has lasted the test of time.

(P.S. If you read the version which is pictured here (The Whole Story), there are little illustrations and helpful blurbs about poems and places that Shelley references, which were really helpful for me.)

The Cartographer's Secret

 The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper, 385 pages.

In 1880 Evie Ludgrove inherited her father's obsession for lost Australian explorer Ludwig Leichhardt. She is a talented artist and cartographer, and is determined to find evidence of Leichhardt's last days to prove herself to her father and help him write the book he's been dreaming of. Thirty years later, Letitia Rawlings goes to visit her Great-Aunt Olivia in their ancestral home at Yellow Rock, the same home that her Aunt Evie lived in before she disappeared, although Lettie know nothing about her when she arrives to deliver news of a death in the family. Deep in mourning for her beloved brother, Lettie takes any opportunity to escape the grief around every corner in Sydney, and so instead finds herself pulled into the mystery of what happened to Evie all those years ago. But as Lettie finds herself retracing Evie's steps, she can't help but wonder if it would have been better to let the past lie.

This book had a pretty cool premise that I found executed in a pretty mediocre way. The pace was very slow, and it seemed more interested in the idea of it's own mysteriousness than the mystery itself. There was a romance that made no particular impression on me and an implied reincarnation that was frankly baffling in an otherwise very grounded historical fiction novel. It wasn't a terrible book, but I don't know that I'll be recommending it either. 

The Pretender

The Pretender by Jo Harkin, 496 pages

In 1483, young John Collan is living a quiet peasant life in a small home with his father when a wealthy noble shows up and whisks him away, promising a new name along with a life of learning and nobility. Because according to that noble, John is actually Edward, Earl of Warwick, the long-hidden son of the late king, and as the last remaining York, the rightful heir to the throne. As John (or Lambert or Simnel or Edward, depending on who's talking to him when) is transferred from one safe place to another, he learns more about the dangerous uncles and Tudors who want to keep him off the throne. However, John's never really sure if he's actually who they claim he is, and has no idea how to clarify the muddled thoughts in his brain.

Based on an actual little-known figure from the transition period between the York and Tudor eras, this book manages to give readers a realistic and often humorous look at a boy caught in the middle of a dynastic fight, never sure who to believe or ally with (though usually the people interested in keeping him alive is a good bet). Harkin creates a world where the reader is never sure if John/Lambert/Simnel/Edward is actually heir to the throne (even when he's temporarily crowned king), and she does it in excellent fashion. My only gripe with this book is that it doesn't have a historical note at the end, which I would've loved to read. Though given the fact that it's based on a tiny historical note, I guess that makes sense. An excellent book for fans of Hilary Mantel, Allison Epstein, and British monarchy.

A selection of December graphic novels

Naked City by Eric Drooker (2024) 336 pages

With New York City as the location I'm reminded of Will Eisner's work. The two-page spreads of city blocks are gorgeous. It is about the struggle of artists to survive in the 21st century. I like the style of the artist's paintings and how the conversation continues through those pages. The singer and painter are given more backstory than the dancer, but all of their hopes, dreams, and struggles are well woven into the whole. In word and image it is poetic at times. Sad at times. It is intended to be a comedy. It makes you feel the coldness of winter at the beginning and end, but also warms your heart.

Breadcrumbs: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Poland by Kasia Babis (2025) 256 pages

Black and white art with shades of grey and pops of red to represent passion, fear, or conflict are perfectly expressive. Loved the coming of age story. Discussing Catholicism, Authoritarianism, Politics, and Abortions are all captivating. Life moves Kasia politically left, dating is difficult, being an activist comes with attacks,  but she presents her self effectively in this graphic memoir.

The Asiri: Vol. 1 by Roye Okupe with art by Samuel Iwunze (2024) 144 pages

Comparisons will obviously be made to Wakanda, but this is its own new creation. Nigerian writers and artists are putting out a whole slate of new superhero sci-fi/fantasy. This is an Afrofuturist tale about a spacefaring West African civilization ruled by humans who transform into super beings. I am very curious to find out what happens next in volume 2, and the other titles promoted at the end of this book sound interesting as well. The art is equal to the standard of DC and Marvel. The world, ruling council disagreements, and action are all exciting. There are three minor typos in the ebook I caught, but that didn't stop my enjoyment.

The Girl Who Danced with Death by Sylvain Runberg with art by Belen Ortega (2019) 176 pages

I saw the Swedish trilogy of films, then read the Millennium books. It is nice to revisit these characters. The alpha male group of villains inspired by Sparta make sense in the current rise of fascism around the world. It is a bit silly that they actually wear Spartan helmets. Still I liked this sequel. It includes all the excitement of the original thrillers.

Under the Banner of King Death: Pirates of the Atlantic by David Lester (2023) 136 pages

I appreciated Marcus Rediker's Foreword. His nonfiction books about pirates are the inspiration for this graphic novel (specifically Villains of All Nations). I liked the history and themes of freedom and democracy in this graphic novel. TV shows Black Sails and Our Flag Means Death are good fun and are better at conveying this message. I did not like the art style here. Some images are overlapped and smudged. Fight scenes try to suggest motion, but are quite messy.

Heretic by Robbie Morrison with art by Charlie Adlard (2024) 128 pages

I enjoyed the The Name of the Rose style mystery. I enjoyed the realistic Gothic black and white art. Religious hypocrisy and witch hunts make for a dark and gory tale. Solid, but it did not wow me. 

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!

Moonrising

Moonrising by Clare Barner, 320 pages

Not too many years in our future, genetically modified crops are clearly the way to provide food for an ever-growing human population, though many people don't trust them, thanks to some poorly regulated crops causing widespread illnesses in the science's earlier days. But that's not keeping Dr. Alex Cole from continuing to fight for GMOs, even if there are ecoterrorists threatening her life at all times. When her latest funding request is denied, Alex is forced to accept a position creating a functioning farm on the new moon colony. When she arrives, however, she learns that some of the first consumers of her new crops will be the ultrawealthy tourists who come to stay at a planned moon hotel being built by Emirati billionaire Mansoor Al Kaabi — not at all the people who she wants to help with her science. However, Alex finds Mansoor a surprising ally, and when sparks begin to fly between them, nobody is more surprised than she.

Given that this is supposed to be a science fiction romance blend, one would hope that the science would be solid and that the main characters would be likeable. However, some of the science seemed particularly hand-wavy and convenient, and I found it REALLY hard to root for a billionaire who unrepentantly admits to manipulating and buying off U.S. politicians to benefit his own pocketbook. Nah.

Fun for the Whole Family

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith, 368 pages

The four Endicott siblings didn't have the best relationship with their mom, who was mostly absent from their lives. However, every summer, she'd arrive and take them on a road trip to random states across the country, staying in crappy hotels, eating diner food, and stopping for odd roadside attractions. This continued until a fire at a hotel forced their dad to put a stop to their annual travels, and the siblings slowly drifted apart. Now estranged adults, straitlaced Gemma is trying to get pregnant (even though she's not really sure she wants to be a mom, after shepherding her younger siblings her whole life); author Connor has alienated his family with his largely autobiographical debut novel and is now fighting writer's block on his follow-up novel; and twins Roddy and Jude have excelled at their chosen professions, gaining fame and fortune as a professional soccer player and acclaimed actress, respectively. But when Jude calls them all for a final family vacation in snowy North Dakota, Gemma, Connor, and Roddy show up ready for a tense and hopefully cathartic reunion.

I'm a sucker for a dysfunctional family story, and this one had all the hallmarks of a great one, with well-developed characters, slightly unrealistic complications, and a lot of heart to tie it all together. As someone whose parents dragged her all over the country in an attempt to visit all 50 states (I just have Alaska left!), this book was particularly poignant for me, and I'll freely admit that the epilogue left me ugly-crying for a solid 10 minutes. However, unless you're a member of my immediate family, that probably won't happen to you. Highly recommended!

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O'Keefe, 352 pages

Faven Sythe is a cryst-born navigator, a semi-human capable of creating faster-than-light pathways between the stars. When her mentor, Ulana, mysteriously disappears into the Clutch, a cosmic graveyard that even the most intrepid interstellar travelers avoid, Faven is convinced that something fishy is going on. Luckily (or perhaps unluckily), she crosses paths with notorious pirate Bitter Amandine, who is one of few who has been to the heart of the Clutch and lived to tell the tale — though she won't, as it was that scarring to her psyche — and the odd pairing embarks on a mission to track down Ulana and figure out what could be going on.

Generally speaking, a standalone space opera with pirates and human/alien hybrids is right up my alley, reading-wise. But something about this one didn't quite catch and hold my attention. The plot felt a bit repetitive, I couldn't really see much character growth in Faven or Amandine, and the cryst backstory felt a bit confusing and flimsy. There are better space operas out there.

Nightshade

Nightshade by Michael Connelly, 352 pages

After rubbing the LA Sheriff's Department top brass the wrong way, Detective Stilwell has been exiled out to Catalina Island, where he has few deputies to help him deal with the drunken tourists that regularly end up in the holding cell. So when a body turns up in the harbor (near the rich tourists' private yachts, of course), Stilwell has to figure out how to juggle that investigation with the day-to-day drunk-and-disorderlies and a recent spate of poaching on the island's reservation. When the poaching investigation runs afoul of a local politician, it complicates the murder investigation too.

This is a solid police procedural and series starter from Connelly. While there are definitely some things that bugged me (such as the fact that Stilwell doesn't seem to have a first name, and nobody, including his girlfriend, seems to care), I did appreciate the relative realism of having to juggle multiple cases while handling a murder investigation.

The Girl from Greenwich Street

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig, 352 pages

In December 1799, Elma Sands left her cousin's home/boarding house, planning on eloping with a rich beau. A week later, her body was fished out of a nearby well, and one of the boarders was arrested for her murder. The crime swiftly became a shocking and famous event in the early days of the U.S., with handbills accusing carpenter Levi Weeks of Elma's murder as gossip about both parties ran rampant through New York City. But when his wealthy brother calls in Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton to defend Levi, the investigation becomes a chance to solve the crime but also wield some political influence.

Based on the first murder trial in U.S. history, this book is thrilling, engrossing, and keeps you guessing, despite its events taking place more than 200 years ago. It's also a brilliant look into the early days of the criminal justice system, which is fascinating from a historic perspective. Well worth a read, though be warned that you will probably have some of the songs from Hamilton stuck in your head as you turn the pages.