Literature helps one adapt.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the "going through a gateway to another world" genre. And I will read the next book if there's a sequel. I don't have so much liking for "woman abused by Faerie." All this is on the cover flap, so I don't consider it spoilers. That is the first part of the book, and I found it hard going; it's the reason the book has only four stars. The writer won me over, and finally the plot started moving along--so much that it went from 3 to 4 stars. The grit and dreariness of dealing with another society without our tech mod cons (plumbing!) has been done before, too. See Household Gods by Judith Tarr & Harry Turtledove, Night-Threads  series by Ru Emerson, Darwath series by Barbara Hambly, and for Faerie abuse see Duainfey, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. But there is original magic in The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic, hurray!

Nora is a graduate student in literature who has just been dumped by her boyfriend. At a country wedding, she slips through a gateway into another world, with only her clothes and a copy of Pride and Prejudice in her back pocket. Who knew that a gift for literary detail would translate into an aptitude for magic? Austen proves a handy guide to society's setup in this new world, and Nora has a hard time of it, but as I said, things look up. The difference between magic and wizardry is quite neatly delineated. The last half of the book is speedy reading and fun, and the trick of how to feed a snow demon without feeding it your soul and that of your companion is probably what earned that 4th star.

It's the first time I'm aware of someone trying Jane Austen in fantasy--though Sharon Lee and Steve Miller do a great job of honoring Georgette Heyer in their Liaden space opera. I'm a fan of both.




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Cast in Chaos

Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara West

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Michelle just keeps getting better! While action is not lacking at all, what I most enjoyed about this particular entry in the series was the further development of the magical system and the power of language. And it's interesting to see the "child of the slums" theme played out in both this series and the Sun Sword/House Wars series. When Michelle deals with magic, it is also an exploration of love and power; that and beautiful writing is what I love about her work.



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Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn

Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I just finished Troubled Waters, and I think it's her best yet. As I neared the end, I was simultaneously wishing to finish and to stretch it out, and I can honestly say it's the first time I ever read a book and hoped it would be a series! I would rather read a thousand or so pages at one time, usually. The "blessings" concept is so charming and true, the people are enjoyable to be around, and the "great evil" is birthed by human greed and pettiness--also true, in the world we live in.
There's a lovely romance, too.

In addition to visiting other worlds, what I most appreciate about reading is that it can give us insights and tools to use in the world we come back to. Instead of passing my copy on to the library, I will have to place it on my shelves to await its future companions. I will enjoy spending time there again and again, as I do in the worlds of Liaden, Elantra, Darkover, Valdemar, and Tortall. (Among others, of course. But after almost fifty years of reading, not many make the cut to stay on the shelves. I try to keep the house count at under 2,000.)

I think Shinn is at the top of her game, and has created another one of those worlds so well-realized that many readers old and new will love to revisit and share.




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More New Great YA Fantasy

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! This woman can write, and I'm in search of her previous books! Truly magical prose.

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A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the latest entry into one of the most wonderful fantasy series out there (starts with The Queen's Thief).
Turner never shies away from love or hard choices and give real insight into politics and kingship--all while having the most engaging, real characters with flaws and gifts we recognize. It made me want to read the series all over again--to spend time in that world, with those characters, that writing...love you, MWT!

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Voices of Dragons

Voices of DragonsVoices of Dragons Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very good entry into dragon lore, an alternate world where dragons emerge from hiding after the nuclear bombs of WWII, adding their own flames and fire. The Cold War is with dragons, a very uneasy peace exists, with humans pushing the boundaries. Into this world an adolescent human girl and an adolescent dragon form a questioning and illegal friendship that brings possibilities of both war and peace--and of course, humans flying with dragons! Woo-hoo!

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