adventure

Outlandish

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Outlandish: Walking Europe’s Unlikely Landscapes by Nick Hunt

I enjoyed reading this combination of hiking memoir, geography, nature, history, culture and more. In 2019 Nick, a British travel writer, hikes through arctic tundra to visit two tiny glaciers, in Scotland. Wintry weather makes the hikes quite challenging. But maybe he’ll see the Gray Man, or reindeer.

Next, he travels to Poland and Belarus to walk through parts of the Białowieża rainforest, which is threatened by logging and road building like so many forests, as well as disease. Bison and wolves might be glimpsed here. The border area is quite militarized, yet Nick feels the urge to stray from the paths. Sometimes he camps in a tent during his adventures, other times in motels or guest houses.

In Spain, Nick travels thru the Tabernas desert, made of rock, not sand, during the 2nd hottest summer on record. The desert is near the Mar de Plástico, the Plastic Sea, which is made of polytunnels where more than half of the fruit and vegetables sold in Europe are grown. Many of the workers are migrants from Northern and Saharan Africa who endure sauna-like conditions. In the Spanish desert, many western movies were filmed, and there is still entertainment styled after the wild west. Nick finds the light dazzling, and while having stored several days of water at his camp in a slot canyon, has to remind himself to return each day before running too low on water. Ibex are frequently spotted on the heights of the canyon walls.

The final adventure is on Hungary’s grassland Steppe, almost completely flat, except for ancient burial mounds. He sees native horses, wallowing water buffalo, and miles and miles of grassland. A festival of Europeans and Asians of the grasslands celebrates horses, unusual alcoholic drinks, and even remembrances of Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.

Vivid writing, great armchair travel writing, and thoughtful explorations of places that are remnants of the past, and how changing climates affect them. A memorable read.

Brenda

Knave of Diamonds

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Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King

In 1925, Mary Russell encounters her uncle, Jacob Russell, for the first time in many years, after a Holmes family celebration near Paris. Jake is the family black sheep, and is looking for the Irish Crown Jewels that were stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907. The Jewels are known as the Order of St. Patrick. Jake may or may not have been involved in the theft.

The first mystery novel featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, was published 30 years ago, and there are now 19 novels and a collection of short stories. I’ve read and enjoyed most of them, and thoroughly enjoyed this adventure of Mary and Jake Russell and Sherlock Holmes, bouncing between England and Ireland, somewhat to Mary’s distress, as she does not care for sea crossings. They travel by train, car, donkey cart, and afoot as they trace the people and places connected with the Jewels, including The O’Mahony, and find that they are not alone in their search. Along the way, Mary and Sherlock acquire a housekeeper to replace Mrs. Hudson at their Sussex house. Mary, Sherlock, and Jake take turns narrating the chapters, which makes for entertaining reading. Uncle Jake, the possible jewel thief, is rather nervous to be under the close scrutiny of Sherlock Holmes. Mycroft Holmes also has a brief appearance, but the brothers are not seeing eye to eye here, and Sherlock mysteriously gives Mycroft an address in France to check out. Great fun, and a fairly low stakes mystery. What the reader doesn’t know until very late in the story is what plans Jake has for the Jewels if and when they’re found.

Brenda

The Witch Roads

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The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

Elen is a deputy courier, delivering messages to small towns and settlements along the same route each month. For part of the month, she’s back home in Orledder Halt, with her teen nephew Kem. Elen can detect and root out new irruptions of Spore. This time Kem is accompanying her on the route, to see if he also wants to be a courier. His Declaration Day is just around the corner. Kem’s mother Aoving died two years ago during an avalanche, while working as a midwife at the Heart Temple. The avalanche has cut Orledder Halt off from travel to the north, except for a secret pathway through the hills and across a canyon.

Two groups of important travelers arrive in Orledder Halt. From one, Kem learns that his father is a lord. The second group includes Prince Gevulin, who’s heading north. Kem, considering being a Warden, joins Prince Gevulin’s group, as does Elen, who knows the hazardous route. Kem is angry with Elen for keeping secrets from him, even after his mother’s death. A guardian statue’s spirit, or haunt, secretly joins the group. Elen has the lowest status of the group and often has to sleep and eat separately from the others. But a simple bed and a full belly remind Elen of the hungry years when Ao and El, orphaned child atoners, were always in danger of the Spore until their daring escape.

This is a memorable journey through an amazing world with many dangers, wonders, and not-quite-human beings. The land is so ancient that much of its history has become myth. Elen and the haunt have some very interesting conversations. I eagerly await Elen and Kem’s further adventures. Epic fantasy readers will likely enjoy this duology, to be concluded this November with The Nameless Roads. The author has two dozen other fantasy works, which I don’t think I’ve read, but look forward to sampling.

Brenda

Murder Takes a Vacation

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Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

Widowed Muriel Blossom, 68, has recently won the lottery, bought an apartment in Baltimore, and is on her way to Paris. She has invited her longtime friend Elinor on a cruise to Normandy, and is spending several days in Paris first. Mrs. Blossom (the annoying way Muriel refers to herself) is a large woman who is sensitive to comments about fitness, overeating, or caftans, though she regularly goes for five-mile walks. It’s been ten years since her husband died, but she is planning her trip partly around places and activities he would have liked.

As with many trips, all does not go smoothly. First, she misses her flight from London to Paris, and spends the time talking with attractive and attentive Allan, who even convinces the claustrophobic Mrs. Blossom to take the train through the underground Chunnel instead of rebooking her flight to Paris. Her hotel room in Paris is searched, as is her cabin on the riverboat, but she doesn’t report it to anyone. Allan mysteriously disappears, as does another acquaintance. And then there’s charming Danny, who takes Mrs. Blossom shopping, and even talks her into buying a caftan. Danny seems to turn up rather too often. Could there be a connection with the room searches and a missing statue with sapphire eyes?

I was really looking forward to reading a mystery set in gorgeous Paris and on a wonderful riverboat cruise in France, but I didn’t feel immersed in the setting. There was more about shopping and accessories than there was about the cruise experience. I was also surprised that a woman who had worked for a private investigator and has been single for ten years would let strangers and acquaintances have so much influence on her. Mrs. Blossom spends more time missing her daughter and granddaughters, who recently moved to Tokyo, than about solving the mystery. That said, this was a fun adventure, with good food, a bit of French scenery, and a little suspense and mystery. Mrs. Blossom does stand up for herself and her friend Elinor before the end of the cruise, and an epilogue shows her enjoying her new life in Baltimore.

This is a quick, easy read, perfect for the beach.

Brenda  

Swordheart

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Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

I’ve read a few other books by T. Kingfisher, but Swordheart, first published in 2018 and recently rereleased, was new to me. I listened to the audiobook, with an excellent narration by Jesse Vilinsky. The genre is fantasy, with humor, adventure, and a slow-burn romance.

Halla, a respectable widow, has been taking care of Uncle Silas for years until his recent death. Silas was her husband’s uncle, so it’s quite a surprise when Halla inherits the large house and its contents. Nasty Malva wants Halla to marry her son Alver so they can regain the inheritance, and won’t take no for an answer. Alver has clammy hands and won’t stand up to his mother’s demands, so Halla looks for another way out. When Halla draws a sword that’s been hanging on the wall for years, Sarkis appears. He is an immortal warrior, sworn to protect the sword’s owner.

To claim Halla’s inheritance, Halla and Sarkis travel from Rutger’s Howe to a temple where they employ Zale, a nonbinary lawyer priest. They travel back to the village in a wagon, driven by Brindle, a gnole, and his ox. Along the way, they have many adventures. Sarkis is grumpy and hiding secrets about his lengthy past, the ox is extremely slow, and Halla is very curious and asks innumerable questions. Readers of Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone are sure to enjoy. Daggerbound, featuring the Dervish mentioned in Swordheart, is expected to be published in 2026.

Brenda

The Orb of Cairado

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The Orb of Cairado by Katherine Addison

A very welcome novella for fans of Addison’s science fiction, set around the time of The Goblin Emperor, but closer in tone to The Witness for the Dead. Ulcetha Zorvena, a shopkeeper’s son, was a history scholar until five years ago. He was accused of stealing the bejeweled Orish Veltavan from Osmer Bruna Aidrina. Aidrina, a scholar from the University of Cairado, found the object in the ruins of the Summer Palace. Ulcetha is not a thief, though he has spent the last several years writing provenances for fake artifacts.

After the sudden death of a friend, Ulcetha is stunned to find himself traveling to the site of the Summer Palace on an expedition for the ultimate prize, the Orb of Cairado. Faced with difficult choices, Ulcetha keeps trying to steel himself to do the next right thing. A twisty plot, a mix of mystery, adventure and scholarship set on a steampunk world populated by elves, goblins, and half-elves make for a fast-paced read. I really enjoyed the scenes set in the university library, where Ulcetha no longer has a scholar’s access.

This memorable novella has me looking forward to Celehar’s return in The Tomb of Dragons, just published this month.  While I read an eBook, Subterranean Press also offers a gorgeous hardcover.

Brenda

The Secret War of Julia Child

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The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana Chambers

Diana Chambers takes the known facts of the life and work of Julia McWilliams (later Julia Child) from 1943 to 1945 and adds plenty of adventure, undercover work, and near-death experiences to create an exciting World War II novel set in Asia. Julia did work for the OSS, Office of Strategic Services, during the war in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and China, but didn’t talk much about her work. She certainly handled highly classified documents. Julia did meet and fall in love with mapmaker Paul Child, and they both enjoyed their introduction to Chinese food. The author traveled Julia’s route from India to Sri Lanka, then over the Himalayans to Kunming in western China, and her research brings the settings to life, along with the other historical characters. Readalikes include My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme and A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.

Brenda

Penric and the Bandit

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Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold

In this fun fantasy/adventure novella, Penric kin Jurald is on vacation, searching for an abandoned temple where there might be hidden treasure. Horse thief Roz decides to tag along with Penric to get a share of the treasure, if any. He is trying to escape from his former gang of thieves. Thievery is fine with Roz, but he doesn’t have a stomach for violence.

When Roz’s gang catches up, Penric turns out to be a tougher mark than expected, as he is a sorcerer with a demon, and also a religious scholar. The temple is extremely hard to reach and Roz has plenty of time to consider what his priorities are during a long standoff. Everyone but Penric and his demon Desdemona are disappointed with the treasure, when it’s uncovered.

I enjoyed the journey and how Penric did his best to get out of a very tricky situation. The Penric and Desdemona novellas begins with Penric’s Demon, which is also in a collection called Penric’s Progress.

Brenda

Lies and Weddings

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Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

This is a contemporary family saga that’s all glitz and glamor, with lots of drama. There are over-the-top parties, very exclusive restaurants, and weddings in exotic locales. Arabella, Countess of Greshambury, steals most of her scenes with her awfulness. She screams at her three grown children and attempts to control them. Arabella is Chinese, but dislikes most other Asians, including Dr. Eden Tong, who is friends with all three of Arabella’s children, but is especially close to Rufus, an artist. Eden lives with her father, oncologist Dr. Thomas Tong, in a cottage on the Greshambury estate.

Settings include Hawaii, Venice, hot-air ballooning in Morocco, and a fabulous car collection in Los Angeles. There’s also a billionaire secretly very ill with cancer. Many descriptions of gorgeous gowns and decadent meals are included, but this entertaining novel doesn’t take itself too seriously. It reads like a vintage Judith Krantz novel, only less steamy and more fun. There’s also a fair number of characters dealing with racial and class prejudice, family histories with plenty of secrets, plus some lovely friendships. This is a good reach for the beach or backyard.

Brenda

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

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Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

This mostly cozy fantasy is patterned after Travis Baldree’s novels Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. Reyna is a palace guard to ruthless young Queen Tilaine, as her mother was a guard for Queen Tilaine’s mother. At court, Reyna meets powerful mage Kianthe, and her griffin Visk. Reyna loves Kianthe’s idea of moving to a quiet village where they can open a bookshop that serves tea and is decorated with tropical plants. They find the village of Tawney, near the mountains, and a likely site for their shop.

One problem to settling down together in Tawney is that Kianthe is the Arcandor, the chief mage, and must respond to problems like dragons. Also, Reyna isn’t allowed to resign from the palace guard. And the dragons are searching for three stolen dragon eggs that may be somewhere near the village. Characters in Tawney include young Gossley, a wannabe bandit, midwife Matild, and two town leaders who each claim oversight of the village.

I enjoyed the charming small town setting and the book and tea shop. There is plenty of danger from outside the village, and this certainly has more action than Baldree’s books. I liked Baldree’s writing better, but this is a good read, and I look forward to Reyna, Kianthe, and Visk’s return in A Pirate’s Life for Tea, to be published in October. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, a July release, may be a good readalike.

Brenda