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The Keeper of Magical Things

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The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

The second cozy fantasy by the author of The Teller of Small Fortunes is not a sequel, but is set in the same world. Certainty Bulrush has been living in the city of Margrave for six years, as a novice in the Guild of Mages. Her only magical talent is to communicate with objects, especially magical objects such as a talking teapot. If she becomes a mage, her family, who have a pear orchard, can afford an apprenticeship for her brother.

Certainty is sent on an assignment with Mage Aurelia Mirella, a farspeaker. Their task is to take two wagons of minor magical artifacts to a remote and unmagical village. Their housing and storage for the artifacts have been pre-arranged, supposedly. The pair are to inventory, organize, store, and ward the collection. Too many magical items at the Guild have created an overflow of magic, leading to some humorous magical incidents. Aurelia has a reputation for being standoffish, and is from a wealthy family in the city. She also has a big secret, which is soon revealed to Certainty. Aurelia has high standards, and neither their housing, storage, or meals meet her approval. Cert has to show by example how to fit in to the village. With assistance from some of the minor magical items, they help the village’s apple orchards, water supply, and help create very tasty pasta. There’s also some romance, and a small catdragon.

When their assignment ends badly, Cert is unfairly blamed and goes home in disgrace to her family, where she is shown … kindness and love. Back to the city she goes, to explain her motives and actions. An enjoyable read, though different in setting and tone from her first book.

Brenda

Five Golden Wings

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Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

Another welcome cozy holiday mystery by Andrews, in the much-loved Meg Langslow series. Meg and her family live near Caerphilly, Virginia, and her parents and other relatives live nearby. Meg’s mother has a large extended family who are descending on Caerphilly the weekend before Christmas for two family weddings. Cousins Lexy and Emily are both getting married at Trinity Episcopal Church and have receptions planned for the lovely Caerphilly Inn. But this is definitely not a double wedding. The cousins have different styles and color schemes and won’t even agree to share a room at the inn to display their wedding gifts. Emily has also chosen a bridesmaid who used to date Lexy’s fiancé. Unfortunately, Meg is hosting some of the wedding party at her house, and they are being rude to both her mother and her favorite cousin, Rose Noire.

Meg’s husband and grandfather keep the kids amused at the local zoo, including zoo sleepovers, but even the kids are arguing with each other, over an upcoming holiday musical. When Meg finds a dead body with a connection to both wedding parties, she has to work fast to make sure the weddings can proceed as planned. I liked the connection to the first book in the series: Murder, With Peacocks, where Meg is the maid of honor for three summer weddings and has to arrange many of the details, such as getting the brides to select their wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. I always enjoy this series, and especially appreciate the humor and Meg’s large, lovably quirky family. Enjoy!

Brenda

The Shattering Peace

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The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi

It’s been way too long since I reviewed a fun science fiction novel, but the wait is now over. This is space opera at its snarkiest and most enjoyable. I enjoy many, but not all, of Scalzi’s books. This is set in The Old Man’s War series, and as it’s been ten years since the last one my memory of the series is rather hazy. It doesn’t matter, and you can just jump, or skip, right into The Shattering Peace without having read the previous books.

Gretchen Trujillo is a diplomat with a fairly unimportant job. At least her occasional orientation session for Colonial Union Diplomatic Security Force recruits is entertaining. And her assistant, Ran, an Obin who can turn off its consciousness, makes a great sidekick.

Then her high-ranking father sends Gretchen and Ran to investigate a missing colony. How thousands of colonists of multiple species inside a large asteroid can go missing is puzzling and alarming. It’s no surprise to the reader when the colony is located, or that Gretchen and Ran end up facing off with some scary smart Consu who don’t really care if the colony, or even Earth itself, is safe. Other than a bar fight, this is a mostly nonviolent science fiction novel, and all the more entertaining for it. I can’t, of course, reveal any more of the plot or where cats or bacon might come into the story. Pure escapist reading is too scarce to spoil any of it. Enjoy!

Brenda

Thus With a Kiss I Die

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Thus With a Kiss I Die by Christina Dodd

Well, that’s not a very cheerful title, is it? Since I thoroughly enjoyed the first Daughter of Montague novel, A Daughter of Fair Verona, I knew the book would be much more entertaining than a quote from Romeo and Juliet would lead the reader to expect. In Christina Dodd’s fictional Verona, Romeo and Juliet are alive, in love, and married with several children. Rosaline, called Rosie, is 20 and helps run the Montague household. While dreaming about handsome Lysander, she has somehow become betrothed to Escalus, the prince of Verona.

Rosie is not at thrilled by her betrothal. But she likes Escalus’s little sister, Isabella, his Nonna Ursula, and his father’s ghost. The ghost of Escalus the Elder is problematic as no one else can see or hear him and he never saw his murderer, who was masked and cloaked. Escalus, nicknamed Cal by his ghostly father, also enjoys spending time with Rosie’s large, chaotic family. When there is unrest in the city, even the prince’s home isn’t safe. On one eventful night Rosie must get home to her mother, then quickly solve two crimes and decide how she really feels about Cal. Of course, both Cal and Rosie are in danger, and deciding who to trust is key.  

This historical novel has witty banter, quirky characters, and is full of adventure, humor, mystery and some romance. The next book, Much Ado About Mistletoe, will be published in late October.   

Brenda

Brigands & Breadknives

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Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

Fans of Legends & Lattes, your wait for a sequel is almost over. Brigands will be published November 11. I was lucky enough to read a digital review copy. The title confused me for quite a while; I thought there’d be more of a bakery setting with Breadknives as part of the title. I am happy that the author didn’t want to write another book too similar to Legends or the prequel Bookshops & Bonedust. Not really a cozy fantasy, this is still a very satisfying read.

Fern, a ratkin, instead of running a bookshop, finds herself on an adventure with Astryx One-Ear, the famous elf oathmaiden, along with Nigel, an Elder Blade, Bucket the horse, and Zyll, a gnome who is definitely serious trouble. Fern isn’t brave, doesn’t have a plan or a clue, and swears a lot, including in gnomish. She also feels guilty for going on an adventure without telling her friends first. Enjoy!

Brenda

Royal Gambit

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Royal Gambit by Daniel O’Malley

I found it very hard to put down this supernatural thriller. Set in and around London, it features Alix, Lady Mondegreen, a Pawn in the Checquy Group. When Alix was six, she was found to have a unique supernatural power, and began instruction and training with the Checquy, a secret organization that investigates supernatural crimes and disturbances. Unusually, Alix still got to attend a private school with normal children, and became friends with Princess Louise. The British Royal Family in this novel are not the same as in our London.

Alix is stunned when she is named one of four ladies-in-waiting to Princess Louise. This unpaid position, while part-time, is usually permanent, and will make her work with the Checquy more difficult. I enjoyed the unusual combination here of descriptions of royal life, detecting crime, and the incredible stories made up to explain supernatural events, along with some humor, as well as several scenes with an adorable Australian quokka. There is some violence as well. While occasionally getting to wear glamorous gowns and, twice, a tiara, Alix frequently gets summoned from one of her jobs to the other just as she’s about to eat. Often, her very curly hair and clothes are a mess. There are some perks to the lady-in-waiting position, including a gorgeous pair of boots that attracts attention on social media.

If you like an occasionally humorous thriller with supernatural elements, or if you read or saw The Rook, the first Checquy novel, I think you’ll enjoy Royal Gambit.

Brenda

For Duck’s Sake

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For Duck’s Sake by Donna Andrews

Twice a year, I delight in a new cozy mystery from Andrews, featuring blacksmith Meg Langslow, her large extended family, and plenty of humor. A huge dog and puppy adoption event, complete with a parade, has taken over Caerphilly, Virginia. Many of the animals are being cared for on Meg and Michael’s farm, and Meg walks to her brother’s new home for some peace and quiet. A contractor excavating a duck pond for Rob and his wife finds some bones, old but not ancient. Meg helps Chief Burke search for stories of younger men who left Caerphilly a few decades ago. She does some research at the library, searching the local paper online and on microfilm, and also talks to some of Caerphilly’s oldest residents. Two older ladies steal several of the scenes, along with the adoptable animals. To add to the chaos, someone starts leaving ducks on Rob’s porch. Five Golden Wings will be published in October. These very cozy mysteries make for great escapist reading and rereading, and the audiobooks are excellent.

Brenda

The Adventure of the Demonic Ox

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The Adventure of the Demonic Ox by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is a Penric and Desdemona fantasy novella. The first novella is Penric’s Demon, the most recent title is Penric and the Bandit.

Penric goes on an adventure with his children who are 8, 9, and 12, and are starting to think about their futures. Wyn is spending the summer as an errand boy with an engineer uncle, who’s rebuilding a nearby bridge. Wyn comes home with an incredible story about a white ox, who may have a demon. Penric travels back to the work site with Wynn, Rina, and his adopted daughter Otta while Penric’s wife Nikys and her mother Idrene stay behind, for a very good reason. Rina, 12, knows that she doesn’t want to teach small children. She is already talented at weaving and being a scribe, but is looking for a more exciting career. Otta has a lot of schooling ahead of her, as does her companion Atto. Wynn might want to be an engineer, too.

Penric is a scholar, a sorcerer, and a physician. Desdemona is his demon. There is quite the adventure with the possessed ox, even turning a bit scary, but with a lovey, cozy ending. Some humor and memorable characters make these fantasy novellas a treat to read.

Brenda

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis

Hard to put down, this contemporary fantasy novel is full of drama, humor, suspense, and guilt. Vivian has felt guilty since she couldn’t prevent her daughter Aria becoming a werewolf. Vivian and Daniel have relocated to a mostly magical town in New England, where Aria is starting kindergarten at a private school. Daniel is still commuting to New York City by train while accountant Vivian is helping Aria adjust to her new surroundings and trying to fit in as a non-magical parent. Of course, Vivian ends up on the PTA board, trying to sort out the accounts from last year’s gala.

While Aria was granted a scholarship for kindergarten, Vivian is dismayed to learn that Aria must participate in three events to determine if she will qualify for first grade: a talent show, a sports day, and a research project. It is rather ridiculous to have a kindergartner be expected to do anything except learn to stay in her human form more often and not to be too hard on her clothes. Vivian is told that a consultant can help, if needed. Then there’s Daniel, who is ready to move the family somewhere more welcoming, if they can find the right place. Oh, and there’s an ominous prophecy that might involve Aria or Vivian. Aria is adorable, the community is quite interesting, and the reader hopes that Vivian will learn which parents can be trusted and welcoming.

An excellent, immersive read. I’m not sure if it would be quite as enjoyable for a PTA parent in a new town, but they might find it hilarious. I haven’t even described the over-the-top kids’ birthday parties, or the magical gala. And why have I never seen a book set at a magical school from the point of view of an ordinary parent, or even a magical parent?

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