illustration of vin from mistborn, at a ball

Vin is a survivor. She is resourceful and smart, overcoming beatings on the street to become a valued member of a thieving crew. Vin is a fighter, no matter if she’s stealing from the rich or dancing among them. There were a lot of things I love, love, loved about Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire, the first inContinue reading “illustration of vin from mistborn, at a ball”

the magician’s land and a good meal

The Magician’s Land (Kindle here) is the final book in Lev Grossman’s trilogy that follows Quentin Coldwater and his friends as they first learn magic, and then learn that magic alone isn’t enough. This fantasy series has magical spells, beasts, and worlds, but what Quentin’s friends must really face is reality. It can be dark, butContinue reading “the magician’s land and a good meal”

vampires in the lemon grove: decorating inspiration

I haven’t yet finished Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories by Karen Russell (Kindle here), but what I’ve read so far has been imaginative and beautiful–but with underlying horror and sadness. In the story “Reeling for the Empire,” a group of girls are held captive to produce beautiful silk for their government. In this case,Continue reading “vampires in the lemon grove: decorating inspiration”

mr. mercedes: screennames

I was talking with Michael recently about what our screennames were, back when everyone used AOL instant messenger. Mine was raendrop316 and I thought it was really clever because my name sounds like rain AND it incorporated my first name and last initial. The numbers were just because I liked the numbers 3 and 16.Continue reading “mr. mercedes: screennames”

to rise again at a decent hour

There is something wrong with Paul C. O’Rourke. It’s not just his frenetic need to tape (on VHS) and watch (except for the sixth inning) every single Red Sox game. And it’s not just in the way he talks about his relationships–always a little too in love, a little too obsessed. The way he set up his dental practiceContinue reading “to rise again at a decent hour”

valour and vanity by mary robinette kowal

Valour and Vanity (Kindle here) is the fourth of Mary Robinette Kowal’s Regency England histories that follow the couple Vincent and Jane, and their families. I have not yet read the three books before this, but that did not keep me from enjoying Valour and Vanity tremendously, and it should not stop you from picking upContinue reading “valour and vanity by mary robinette kowal”

titiana’s outfit from the haunted bookshop

Like everyone else who shopped at the haunted bookshop, Titiana charmed me. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning. The 18-year-old arrives to her bookshop apprenticeship in a fur stole, after all, so can you really blame me–or her father–for making the mistake of thinking her frivolous? But you learn in The Haunted BookshopContinue reading “titiana’s outfit from the haunted bookshop”