March, 2023

"The House is on Fire" by Rachel Beanland

Set in 1811, this is the fictionalized story of the theater fire in Richmond Virginia.  Over 600 people were packed into the wooden building.  Jack, a stagehand, watches as a lighted chandelier gets stuck and is swung into the highly flammable backdrops.  Recently widowed Sally sits with friends on the third floor, only halfway paying attention to the story.  On the bottom floor in the galley, enslaved Cecilly tries to forget her demanding mistress and her amorous brother.  escape from the demands of her enslaved life.  When blacksmith Gilbert learns of the fire, he races into danger, helping people flee from the burning building.

This was a well written and engaging book.  I had a hard time putting it down!  This is definitely storytelling at it's finest!  The plot moved along at a quick pace, and the characters were dynamic and multi-dimensional.  I can't wait to read more from this author.  Overall, highly recommended.

"The Female Breeders" by Melanie Bokstad Horey

In order to ensure a non-violent, utopian society, men are relegated to hard labor and reproduction.  Women have been genetically enhanced in one of five ways, designed to make them super-human.  When scientist Need is assigned to interview males before they are chosen for breeding, she slowly realizes that they are human, with thoughts, dreams, and feelings.

Although I thought this was an interesting world, it needed a bit more development or explanation.  The characters were engaging and showed development throughout the story.  My biggest criticism is that the plot jumped quite a bit, glossing over important events and then giving a brief description of them.  The book could have been more coherent if the author took her time with those plot points.  Overall, a decent book, I will probably pick up the sequel.

"The Last Carolina Girl" by Meagan Church

Leah and her father live a simple life along the Carolina coast.  When her father dies, Leah is torn from her home and sent across the state to live with strangers.  Instead of welcoming her into the family, she is treated as a maid.  

This book was ok.  It moved very slow and very little seemed to happen with the plot.  The characters were well developed and multi dimensional.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars .

"The Weight of Air" by Kimberly Duffy

Mabel performs as a strong woman with her father in a European circus.  When her father dies, her stage fright overcomes and she is unable to perform.  Across the sea, Isabella, an aging aerialist, fights her body in order to continue performing.  When Mabel was a toddler, her mother left her to care for her aging parent.  She never returned.  Now, Mabel leaves the circus with Jake, an acrobat, and travels to America to find herself, and possibly her mom. 

This book was pretty depressing and nostalgic.  I suppose that is often the case in life, but I don't generally enjoy those types of books.  The characters definitely felt realistic and well developed.  Although the book wasn't for me, it was well written and well paced.  4 out of 5 stars.

"Beyond That, the Sea" by Laura Spence-Ash

At the start of WWII, Millie ad Reginald sent their 11 year old daughter Beatrix to live with strangers in the United States.  Beatrix ends up with Mr. and Mrs. Gregory, and their two sons, William and Gerald.  Bea quickly becomes used to her life in America, and fits in great with her new family.  Yet, feelings of guilt abound.  After the war, Bea move back to London, feeling unsettled and unmoored.

This book was pretty sad and depressing.  There was no high point or tension in the plot.  The book moved slowly and tried to juggle too many points of view.  Overall, not a book I would re-read or recommend. 

"Hierarchy of Blood" by Jennifer Haskin

17 year old Marishel is selected as one of 60 women to fight to the death for the hand of Prince.  Traveling from her home in the chilly outreaches of the planet, she is transported to the warmth and comfort of the capital.  Determined to stop the process, she struggles to make allies and convince other girls to join her.

Although this was an interesting story, the book needed a bit more character and plot development.  60 girls was a bit much, they all seemed to blend together.  It was extremely easy to get in and out of the palace, which seemed a bit unrealistic.  In the end, everything was resolved way to easily.  Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.