"The Philosopher's Flight" by Tom Miller

Disclaimer: I was given a free advance ecopy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher, Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

If you've ever dreamed of flying, have I got the book for you! The Philosopher's Flight is set in the early 1900s in a bit of a different world from our own. Society is matriarchal instead of patriarchal (i.e. women go to work and war, have the most influence, and generally rule the roost, while men stay home [for the most part], take care of the kids, and get catcalled on the streets). It's refreshing to read a fantasy book that doesn't have a patriarchal society, especially when it's alternate history. I find some books with your typical Tolkien-style worlds so true-to-history as far as misogyny goes that they're difficult to read (I'm looking at you, George R.R. Martin).

The first half of this novel is the most difficult to get through due to a complex magic system that involves science, therefore making this a bit of a sci-fi book. I had issues initially imagining it, but as the book went on the magic system made a lot more sense and I really began to enjoy it. Philosophers in this book are a bit like scientific magicians: to them, it's simple science to be able to fly, heal people, and transport things and people across vast expanses, but to those who don't understand the science it seems a lot like magic.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):

'The Philosopher’s Flight is an epic historical fantasy set in a World-War-I-era America where magic and science have blended into a single extraordinary art. 

'Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals.

'When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women. 

'Robert falls hard for Danielle Hardin, a disillusioned young war hero turned political radical. However, Danielle’s activism and Robert’s recklessness attract the attention of the same fanatical anti-philosophical group that Robert’s mother fought years before. With their lives in mounting danger, Robert and Danielle band together with a team of unlikely heroes to fight for Robert’s place among the next generation of empirical philosophers—and for philosophy’s very survival against the men who would destroy it.

'In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness, Tom Miller writes with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and humor. The Philosopher’s Flight is both a fantastical reimagining of American history and a beautifully composed coming-of-age tale for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.'

As someone born and raised in Montana, I expected this book to fail miserably on that end of things, but the setting where Robert Weekes grew up was spot-on for the area (though I did feel like the inclusion of Parmly Library would've amped the setting up a notch). Of course, due to this being alternate history, would the buildings have been the same? I am beginning to doubt that.

The central theme in this book is overcoming obstacles and adversity, along with how diversity should be considered a strength rather than a weakness. Although this book is a lot of fun to read, it does delve deeply into philosophical topics that don't involve magic. The last half of the book I read so speedily I worried I may have missed some of that depth, but when you love a character and their life is in danger, you kind of need to know if they survive that paragraph.

The Philosopher's Flight has the perfect fun to worldbuilding ratio of any book I've read in the past six months. The characters fly off the page at you and you find yourself a bit too invested in their well-being for them to be fictional. I am surprised that this is a debut, because it seems like someone who writes this well has had at least one book under their belt, but stranger things have happened. If you want an immersive fantasy experience that combines all of my favorite genres, The Philosopher's Flight may be the book for you. 

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptionally exquisite alternate history debut!

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for sexual content, swearing, racial epithets, and philosophical catastrophes!

Page Count: 432 pages

"White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2)" by Ilona Andrews

White Hot is the second in the Hidden Legacy series, and this review contains some spoilers for the first book, Burn For Me. My review of Burn For Me is here.

This book contains some of the elements that made Fate's Edge one of my favorite Ilona Andrews' books- animals, ingenuity, and a lot of creative thinking. While the returning characters did sweeten the book, I love the fact that Cornelius returns with his animal menagerie to make this book even more Litha-approved. As you may know, a heavy helping of critters with personality goes a long way in terms of improving my reception to books.

Of course, I must discuss the cover, which basically gives some of the book away: Nevada and Rogan were (1st book spoiler) separated in the first book by Rogan's offer which Nevada refused. Obviously, something romantic is happening in this book. I think a lot of my fears about Rogan and Nevada's dynamic were answered in this book, because they get to know each other a bit more than in Burn For Me.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.
'Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …'

One of my favorite things about the Hidden Legacy series is Nevada's family, and her grandma, Frida continues to hold a special place in my heart with her mad vehicular modification skills. You get to see more of Catalina and Arabella (Nevada's sisters) in this book, and not just in the annoying lil' sis ways you'd expect of them (although there's more than enough of that too). There is definitely more of a focus on the Baylor clan than there was in Burn For Me, because although Nevada lived and worked with her family then there was less of their input on her everyday activities with Rogan.

I was impressed with the plot of this book probably even more than Burn For Me which was more of a typical series introduction book. Although there are some hodge podge action scenes, the overall story was impressive (especially the bit that involved the animals). This is supposed to be paranormal romance, but there is a lot more urban fantasy-ish situations than I recall a lot of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance mixes having.

White Hot is the type of paranormal romance that brings me out of a bad mood with ease. I enjoyed it so much I decided to reread it before writing up a review- the Hidden Legacy series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. If you like action-packed books with realistic characters and a side of romance, this series might be for you.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional sequel that exceeded my magical expectations!

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for violence, animal burglars, and sexual content.

Page Count: 389 pages

Early Critique: "Magic Binds (Kate Daniels #9)" by Ilona Andrews

Note: This review has a few spoilers for those of you who are new to or behind on this series. My review of the first book, Magic Bites, is here.

Disclaimer: I was given a free advance e-copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

Expected Publication: September 20th

Kate and company have overcome immense obstacles throughout the course of this series, but the one who has always loomed largest is Roland, the god-like magician. Kate has always assumed she would face him singlehandedly, but along the way she has picked up allies and even friends in her quest to rid the world of his presence. In the previous book I noted I was growing somewhat fond of him, but he (yet again) reveals his true colors in this book.

The ingredients to the perfect Kate Daniels book haven't changed: there must be sarcasm, prolific action scenes, mysterious mythological elements, and the secret sauce that is the wonderfully exuberant cast of characters to hasten things along. Despite a seemingly impervious group of friends surrounding her, her relationships do suffer with the growth of her power and influence- friendships I hadn't believed would falter did. I was a bit disappointed in several characters as a result of that, which might be why I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the others in the series.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…
'Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…
'Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.
'The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…'

In my Magic Shifts review, I mentioned Kate and Curran having to deal with the consequences of their actions all by their lonesome- and that theme expands in this book. With a wedding to plan, and Kate being not keen on wedding planning, you get to see some fascinating displays of procrastination that even veteran procrastinators (such as myself) can admire. Kate has always had tomboyish tendencies that clash with the impending festivities, giving lightness to a book that is on the darker end of the spectrum with some of its plot elements.

Making this book more complex is the choices Kate must make by herself, that may affect the future in a myriad of ways. I don't envy Kate's role in this book, as she must confront her fears, and her past, in order to envision a new future for herself, even if it means sacrificing something she loves. True to her character, she rises to the occasion, but I felt concerned about events that may or may not come to pass in the next book.

In addition to all the drama listed above, we also have a returning character I was a bit ambivalent about, given the role they played previously. I did a recent reread of this series and became even more opposed to the return of this character, because some of what they did previously doesn't make much sense with how they're acting now. However, I think this may lead to some developments in the next book, as there are many plot threads yet to be woven together for Book #10.

Magic Binds is preparing us for one hell of a finale, which might be why I hesitate to give it five stars. It ends on a semi-cliffhanger, making you eager to read the next volume of Kate and Curran's adventures, which you will have to wait (likely another year) to read. Nonetheless, this installment should prove curative to those Kate and Curran fanatics who require a fix- myself included.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for exceptional displays of urban fantasy badassery and snark!

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for the usual Kate Daniels mix of violence against mythological beings and foul mouthed epithets.

Page Count: 384 pages

"On the Edge (The Edge #1)" by Ilona Andrews

Naturally, since I am addicted to any narcotic substance writing produced by Ilona Andrews, I picked up the entire series during my buying spree at Better World Books. This book has a lot in common with Ilona Andrews' other work, Burn For Me, which I also loved, but is set in a more 'hidden world'. It's also more romance oriented than Ilona Andrews' usual urban fantasy fare, but still can't touch Halfway to the Grave.

There are three worlds in this novel: the Broken, which is basically what normal, non-magical folks like us live in daily, the Edge, which has a bit of magic to it, and has no rule of law, and the Weird, where the most magical people live and is the essential 'magic kingdom'. Most magic users can only visit two worlds, the Edge and the Weird, due to the Broken being 'broken' of magic. Others don't have enough magic to visit the Weird, or have warrants out for their arrest in the Weird. Rose can visit all three, but doesn't have the necessary papers to ensure her and her brothers' rights are respected once they cross into the Weird, hence them living on the Edge, with the occasional venture into the Broken.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.
'Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).
'But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.'

Rose is left to care for her young brothers after her father runs off when she is a teenager. Despite challenges, she raises them as best she can, until one day a stranger comes to her property looking to carry her off as his own. Declan is the kind of hero I usually wince at- he makes all kinds of demands, believes he is entitled to certain things, and will do anything to get what he wants. There are a lot of moments where my eyebrows were *almost* meeting my hairline... but all is revealed in the end, as with any good book.

Beyond Rose, who is a heroine I love (she has no issues telling bluebloods to get off her property... with actions), there are also Rose's brothers: Georgie and Jack. The way the book opens with them featured is somewhat strange- it again harkened back to Burn for Me, which also had zany characters and peculiar scenes. Although Georgie is somewhat dear to me due to his name, Jack takes the cake, as he is a lynx changeling kitten. So if you remember my obsessive Wolf puppy-centric review of Written in Red, you'll understand why I was so excited while reading this- children who turn into small fluffy things in books are on my list of favorite things ever. (Children who turn into small fluffy things in real life... now that's a nightmare waiting to happen.)

On the Edge is an exceptional escape from reality. If you've ever wondered if magic users frequent Wal-Mart, well, this book may indeed hold the answer for you. If you're addicted to fictional shifter children, this book has one. If you like urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but definitely prefer the urban fantasy bits, have no fear. I recommend this book to those who like books about adult magic users, both prosperous and penniless.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for a new (to me) favorite Ilona Andrews series!

Content: Ages 18+ for violence, sexual content, likely a few naughty words, and irritating bluebloods.

Page Count: 309 pages in my mass market paperback edition

Interesting Fact: Jack and George are also featured in a scene of Sweep in Peace, a book I read last year and haven't reviewed (yet). I'll have to reread it!

"Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1)" by Robin Hobb

I'd already made progress on my list of authors I wanted to read in 2016 by reading Octavia Butler's work, so I figured I may as well try reading Assassin's Apprentice to get Robin Hobb off my list as well. While I wasn't really impressed with the beginning of this book, I read on due to curiosity, which evolved into addiction at the halfway point. Fitz, for all his frequent insipidity, had begun to grow on me.

While you enter the book with the expectation of wild adventure, Assassin's Apprentice is a more mild form of the assassin storyline. Fitz has some growing up to do in the beginning, as well as progressing as a character before he can be all that the title claims he will be. I enjoyed Fitz's childhood days, but throughout the book I couldn't help but notice the lack of female characters. We have two minor female characters who I liked, but I would've liked it more if their presence wasn't as peripheral.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
'Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.
'So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.'

Fitz grows up in the stables under the purview of his father's right hand man, Burrich, and develops a bond with the animals there- a bond that goes beyond the mundane. He can see, smell, and act through his link to the animal, which happens to be a magical taboo. While there are many animals featured in the book, it didn't precisely win me (for a slightly spoilery reason).

The villains featured in this book reminded me more of the Harry Potter type than the A Game of Thrones type. In other words, they're pretty dang mean and conniving, but it isn't as over-the-top as some books take it. There are scenes I read while wincing and peering through my eyelashes, though, as I wasn't sure if the violence would stop or continue. Funny how I never read A Song of Ice and Fire like that- I guess I anticipated the gore.

An interesting piece of dialogue:

"When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool, you end up sounding like a moron instead."

             ~Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, page 209 Kindle edition

Assassin's Apprentice begins innocently enough, but builds complexity from those humble roots. In some ways, it's more a coming of age novel than it is your typical epic fantasy, but I devoured every word regardless. If you don't mind a slower start in your fantasy books and like some political machinations as the book progresses, I recommend Assassin's Apprentice for your next read.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional coming of age fantasy!

Content: Ages 16+ for some scenes where the violence gets pretty M-Rated.

Page Count: 480 pages

My Best Reads of 2015

This year I was lucky enough not to have read any one star reads, thus negating my need for the best and worst reads. So for 2015- it's simply the best of what I've read.

The 5 Star Reads:

*= links to Goodreads (the unmarked links link to my review on this blog)

Billy by Albert French

Genre: Historical Fiction (but based on a true story)

I unwittingly picked this up from my pile prior to Black History Month (which became an impromptu diverse books month for me) expecting... nothing, really. I expected this to be an interesting historical fiction. Instead it became the book that haunted me throughout the year as topics of race relations and racial injustice came up. I highly *HIGHLY* recommend it.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux*

Genre: Classic/Gothic Horror

I can't remember which friends of mine were obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera, and if it was just the film they were obsessed with. However, I deemed it a 'girly' thing, and therefore not on my list of things to experience. During my feast of classics this December, I decided to give it a try, and eventually, I ended up loving it.

My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse*

Genre: Classic Short Stories
This is one of those 'joy of being human' books combined with 'comedy of errors', and it's perfect in every way (even though it's a series of short stories and not a full-out book).

Fantasy

 The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Speaking of 'joy of being human' books- I can't believe I put this one off for so long. I love you, Inigo Montoya!

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1) by Scott Lynch
Rating: 4 Stars
I've had trouble with reading this one before, but since there was a readalong for it, I powered through- and ended up enjoying it greatly. Despite some lulls in the plot, I hope to continue the series soon.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the only Neil Gaiman novel I've ever really *really* liked. For some reason, his urban fantasies irk me while some of his short stories (and of course, this book) have delighted me. If he ever does more fairy-tale-ish fantasy like this, I'll be in line to read it.

Urban Fantasy

Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I'd had this on my wishlist forever and then finally the price became more decent for me and I snagged it. I expected to enjoy it, and I most certainly did- antiheroes are often my thing, and this read like a summer blockbuster, especially considering it involved superheroes.

Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8) by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I had hoped to love this one just a bit more, but I didn't find it quite as compelling as Magic Breaks. However, it's still a worthy addition to the series.

Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop
Rating: 4.5 Stars
As I said, I would've picked this one up a fair bit earlier if it had had a cute harnessed Wolf puppy on the cover. However, due to its grim cover, it certainly exceeded my initial expectations of it. It features truly excellent world and character building, with an unlikely heroine.

Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews
Also, Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews*
Ratings: 4 Stars
This urban fantasy also features an unlikely heroine, but not quite as unlikely as the one in Written in Red (Meg). I really liked that this one has an extra sci-fi element to it that I haven't seen in other urban fantasy. It was also simply adorable- a delightful shorter urban fantasy read, along with its sequel.

Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1) by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm a bit put out about this series as it has been delayed (and won't likely have a new addition this year). But, this is still one of the best urban fantasy adventures I read this year (along with every other book that Ilona Andrews has written). I don't recommend reading it as quickly, though, due to the delay- read it whenever White Hot (the next book) arrives.

Paranormal Romance

The Secret (Irin Chronicles #3) by Elizabeth Hunter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The last book with Ava and Malachi (although there is a short story out featuring them), but not the last book in the series (thank goodness). I would expound more, but much of this book has spoilers for the other books, so it's rather dangerous to be wordy here.

Magical Realism

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This was a book everyone was talking about- except me. I felt left out, so I picked it up, expecting another one of those popular books that everyone loves and I simply like. It didn't turn out that way- this came within an inch of five stars. A truly magical gem for anyone who enjoys its genre.

Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This one I expected to enjoy- I've always enjoyed tales by Alice Hoffman, but this became one of my favorites of hers. It features dogs, who, quite naturally, have a special place in my heart- just like this book.

Local Girls by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4 Stars
One of those rare books that I've read in one sitting, Local Girls was another book of Alice Hoffman's I enjoyed this year. Although it lacked the polish of Turtle Moon, it still had its moments and is therefore still fully recommendable (especially if you're a rabid Hoffman fan like me).

Fantasy Romance

Song of Blood and Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1) by L. Penelope
Rating: 4 Stars
I wasn't sure what I'd get by requesting this on NetGalley, but it turned out to be one of my diverse favorites for the year.

Radiance (Wraith Kings #1) by Grace Draven*
Rating: 4 Stars
A friends-to-lovers fantasy romance by one of my favorite authors? Of course it has to be on this list. Although I didn't like it as much as some of her other work, I'm excited to see what the next book in the series will bring.

Science Fiction

Kesrith (The Faded Sun #1) by C.J. Cherryh
Shon'jir (The Faded Sun #2) by C.J. Cherryh
Kutath (The Faded Sun #3) by C.J. Cherryh
Ratings: 4 Stars
I bought the chunky omnibus of this trilogy for a steal of a price, and it was well worth the time I spent with it. It isn't one of those action-packed sci-fis in space, but it is an intelligent, moderately paced, political-maneuvering piece of science fiction.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams
Rating: 4 Stars
The first of of this didn't really impress me, but the second half did, and that's what counts as far as my ratings go.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Rating: 4 Stars
What impressed me most with this one was the technology the author had imagined up, and how close it is to what we have now. The message was also a great one, even though the characters were little more than pawns to create it for the author.

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Rating: 4 Stars
Despite an awful heroine, this novella has some serious punch (and doesn't take much time at all to read).

Steampunk

Unseemly Science (The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #2) by Rod Duncan

Rating: 4.5 Stars

With the second book in any series, my expectations rise- and this book met the challenge. I recommend starting with The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter first, of course, otherwise you'll be lost.

The Shadow Revolution (Crown & Key #1) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The Undying Legion (Crown & Key #2) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The Conquering Dark (Crown & Key #3) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

Ratings: 4 Stars

These were all review copies I read and greatly enjoyed- what make these is the core group of characters who evolve with each book. There is plenty of action, humor, and a dash of light romance (which helps lighten some of the darker moments).

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger

Blameless (Parasol Protectorate #3) by Gail Carriger

Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger

Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5) by Gail Carriger

Ratings: 4 Stars

This is a very core-steampunk series- it's been around a while, but I hadn't read any of it until January of this year. In a way, this would be best for those who love both historical romance and urban fantasy, as the books give you that feel, with an adventurous twist.

Historical Fiction

Intriguingly, all the covers of the books I liked most in this category are partly or mostly red. Hmm...

The Third Son by Julie Wu
Rating: 4 Stars
I knew little to nothing about Taiwan when I began this novel and learned a lot, while being entertained with an unusual story of coming to America.

Peony in Love by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
This is really a combination of historical fiction and magical realism, and it probably isn't for everyone. However, it became my new favorite book by Lisa See.

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Rating: 4 Stars
Another story I knew nothing about, this follows the guard of a 'rebel queen' and shadows much of the queen's life. It was a roundabout way to tell the story, but one I enjoyed nonetheless.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro
Rating: 4 Stars
Entertaining and well-written, however, it is also heartbreakingly predictable. I recommend this to those who like the journey as opposed to the destination.

Historical Romance

A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin (The Debutante Files #1) by Sophie Jordan
Rating: 4 Stars
I got this as a Kindle freebie and hadn't expected much, despite its mainstream publisher. Nonetheless, this was an excellent historical romance diversion, even if it was largely unrealistic.

The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister #2) by Courtney Milan
Rating: 4 Stars
A romance where the secondary couple stole my heart more than the 'main' couple.

Memoir/Autobiography/Biography

Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Simply the best memoir I read this year.

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre
Rating: 4 Stars
What made this biography was its central subject: Eddie Chapman. While there were many parts where I skimmed due to excess detail, the ending really made it a four star read.

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal by Vicki Constantine Croke
Rating: 4 Stars
If I end up half as interesting as Ruth Harkness, I will consider my life well lived. Also an interesting look at the beginnings of zoos (hint: they weren't so shiny).

The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman
Rating: 4 Stars
An unusual Holocaust memoir that made me feel I knew Władysław's family. Simply one of those must-read-for-yourself books.

Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body by Martin Pistorius*
Rating: 4 Stars
I expected to like this as much as Autobiography of a Face, but despite Martin's incredible story, I just didn't get as much from his book as I did Lucy's. Still well worth a read, just not as interesting as I'd hoped.

Graphic Novel

The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (The Hedge Knight Graphic Novels I) by George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery, and Mike S. Miller
The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel (The Hedge Knight Graphic Novels II) by George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery, and Mike S. Miller
Ratings: 4 Stars
Very interesting for those of us who are still waiting on Winds of Winter (and will wait forevermore, it seems...). These were my first forays into graphic novels, and I'd say it was a successful jaunt.

How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman, The Oatmeal*
Rating: 4 Stars
This is very useful, especially if your rescue cat is a natural born killer like mine. But really- I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. This was well worth the Kindle Daily Deal price.

Way in the Outfield/Surprise Genre Category

Dietland by Sarai Walker*
Rating: 4ish Stars (Unsure of exact rating as of yet)
I rarely and/or never read contemporary fiction. It simply isn't my thing, unless there is some element of paranormal. However, this book is widely considered contemporary, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure why the ratings are so low on Goodreads (other than the cover shouldn't look so "Miss Nice Girl"). Anyway, if you are curious, go check out other people's reviews on Goodreads, because I haven't quite digested my thoughts on this yet.

Are any of your favorites on my list?