Reading Roundup #59: Books of Magic

There’s a change in the wind, a stirring of magical possibilities… or maybe that’s just pollen and my own fancy! Whatever the case, I’ve definitely been in a mood for fantasy. I’m still struggling with headaches and eye strain, but thanks to audiobooks, I’ve managed to get through several books that were on my reading list and escape into worlds of wonder and terror. If you’re in the mood for magical escape, maybe you’ll find something here to enjoy!

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft: I had a good feeling about this one, and while it was a little bemusing, it did not disappoint. Saft has created a world that maps almost perfectly onto the one we inhabit — complete with a world war, prohibition, famine and recognizable religious and ethnic bigotry — to the point that one wonders, why not simply say “our world, our history, but with magic”? However, this is a minor critique, considering I loved everything else! Withdrawn, methodical Margaret and loud, intuitive Wes appear complete opposites but share a deep loneliness and an experience as cultural outsiders. Watching them learn to work together and trust was immensely rewarding, and the built-in stakes of the hunt — and the conflict it presents for both of them — had me biting my nails, both wanting them to succeed and hoping they would find another way. Highly recommended if you enjoy magical realism, stories set in the early 20th-century, and explorations of the nature of love, in all its messy glory. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke: There are few books I love so well as eight hundred page tomes that pull me in and slowly tighten their grip on my heart. By the final section of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell I was a mess of apprehension, worrying how the characters would get out of this tangled web of enchantment. After this and Piranesi, Susanna Clarke is firmly established as a favorite author, and I look forward to revisiting both — and to checking out her short story work!

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? (Lady Sherlock #6) by Sherry Thomas: After zooming through the first five books, I put off reading Miss Moriarty, I Presume? for a couple months because I wanted to make the series last — the seventh book isn’t due to release until December! (Yes, I already have it on pre-order — you should, too.) Thomas continues to flesh out an already rich reinterpretation of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. Holmes is a notoriously difficult character, both to interpret and to adapt, and Thomas has found the perfect balance between compelling intellect and human frailty, and Charlotte Holmes has quickly become one of my favorite literary heroines. Watching her go up against not one but two worthy opponents in Miss Moriarty, I Presume? was an intellectual delight, and I can’t wait to see where her adventures take her next time. The countdown to December begins… now!

The Chronicles of Narnia #2-4 by C.S. Lewis: I’m having great fun rereading (or, in this case, listening to) the Narnia books! While I don’t find them particularly complex, there’s something to be said for straightforward, old-fashioned adventures that value you bravery and compassion. And the characters are so wonderful! I can’t believe I forgot Reepicheep!

Have you read any of these books, too, and if so, what did you think?

—b