January, 2020

"The Girl with the Louding Voice" by Abi Dare        

 Fourteen year old Adunni is terrified and appalled when her father sells her to a old man to be his third wife. All Adunni wants is to be educated, and then to be a teacher. Instead, she is forced into a horrible situation. When she runs away, she ends up little more than a slave to a wealthy family. Despite these horrible situations, Adunni is determined to be a girl with a louding voice.          

This was a well written and engaging story. I immediately felt for Adunni and found myself rooting for her. I would love to read a sequel and find out what happens next. Overall, highly recommended.

"The German Heiress" by Anika Scott          

Since the end of WWII, Clara has been living under an assumed name in a small town. During the war, Clara ran her family's ironworks for Germany. Known as the Iron Fraulein, she was used as a propaganda tool. When a British agent tracks her down, she narrowly escapes back to her hometown. Quickly after returning she discovers that her closest friend Elisa was picked up by the Gestapo and Elisa's son is missing. While evading the agent, she is determined to find them both.          

This was an interesting read. I did not want to like Clara, but as the book unraveled she became more and more likeable. She, and the other characters, felt very realistic. Throughout the book, questions of morality, survival and image are at the forefront. Overall, this book was well written, engaging and enjoyable. 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Queen's Fortune" by Allison Pataki         

After a chance meeting with Napoleon and Joseph Bonaparte, Desiree and her sister Julie find themselves entangled with the brothers. Julie and Joseph marry and Desiree and Napoleon become engaged in secret. Napoleon finds success in the military, and a new love in Josephine. Desiree is heartbroken by his betrayal, but determined to remain close to her sister.          

This book was a bit slow moving at first. The author used a flowery descriptive tone, which seemed to drag at times. However, once everyone was introduced, and the scene set, the book picked up a bit. While the characters were realistic and dynamic, the relationship between the characters was fascinating. Overall, well worth picking up.

"The Black Swan of Paris" by Karen Robards          

Singer Genevieve Dumont is able to move through Nazi occupied France with ease. Her celebrity allows her to bypass searches, and to travel where others cannot. Her manager, Max is a British spy, who takes full advantage of Genevieve's privileges. When Genevieve learns that her estranged mother has been arrested and is awaiting torture, she does everything she can to rescue her.          

The characters throughout this story were dynamic, well rounded and easy to relate too. The story itself was well paced and interesting. I found myself unable to put this book down, I just had to know what happened next. Overall, well worth picking up.

"Library of Legends" by Janie Chang          

When the Japanese begin their invasion of China, university student Lian finds herself being evacuated with the Minghua University. Lian and her classmates have been tasked with transporting the Library of Legends, a collection of myths and folklore which has survived for over 500 years. As they travel with the books, spirits, guardians, and gods begin to awake.          

It is hard to describe all of the moving pieces of this book adequately. The characters were very well developed and multi-dimensional. I found the interaction between the mortal and immortal fascinating. I have already purchased Janie Change's other books and look forward to reading them. Overall 5 out of 5 stars.

"What Unbreakable Looks Like" by Kate McLaughlin          

After being turned out Lex, known as Poppy, lives in a hotel with several other girls. When the police raid the hotel, she is hooked on drugs, malnourished, and completely untrusting of anyone around her. When her aunt takes her in, Lex is immediately wary, constantly wondering what her aunt wants from her. As she struggles to return to a normal life, Lex must fights her own urges and instincts to turn back to a familiar and drug fueled existence.          

This was a well paced, interesting, and heartbreaking book. Lex felt completely realistic, she could have been anyone. Overall, well worth picking up.

"Stories of the Sahara" by Sanmao          

Sanmao, and her husband Jose live in the Spanish Sahara among the native Sahrawi people. This book is a collection of short stories outlining their lives in the desert. Since this is a collection of short stories, at times it feels disjointed and hard to follow. Some of the stories lacked context - not knowing anything about the history of the area left me a little lost at times. I also found myself wanting to know more about the Spanish Sahara and its bid for independence. Despite these criticisms, the stories were interesting, dynamic and oftentimes humorous. I admire Sanmao and Jose's courage and sense of adventure. Overall, well worth reading.