It’s all about daring and intrigue this week, as heroes and heroines race against time and villains to protect what they value most. I had so much fun with each of these books, and if any pique your interest, I hope you’ll give them a try (or at least add them to your never-ending TBR!).
The Queen and the Knave (Dread Penny Society #5) by Sarah M. Eden: For four books and four years, Eden has built steadily toward this action-packed conclusion, and it was worth every day of waiting. The arrival of the Tempest in book four sent our Dreadfuls to ground, and now, the Dread Master must finally reveal herself if she’s to protect her people and her city. To do so, Maeve must partner with Fitz Parkington, despite her mistrust of policeman, and they’re well-matched in determination, competency, and even playfulness, when they get a rare moment to breathe. The Queen and the Knave begins with tension that only increases from there until you can’t put it down and find yourself gasping and cheering for the big finale. If you’ve waited to start this series until it was all out, be assured it not only stays good but gets better with each installment, and the ending is everything you could want. My thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
And speaking of books that met and exceeded expectations….
Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller: This novel is such a good time, balancing the drama of Viennese high society and conspiracies with the hilarious absurdities of individual people. Maria Wallner just wants to get her family hotel fully running again after many lean years, but she’s hampered by mysterious accidents, assassination attempts, and family drama that’s suddenly turned even more dramatic than usual. She’s equally assisted and distracted by the reserved American agent who’s come to investigate an intelligence leak traced to her hotel (did we mention the spies? the hotel is crawling with them!). I absolutely fell in love with these two and the zany characters around them, even if — like Eli — I thought they were all mad decadents at first. To be fair, they are, but they’re the best kind of mad decadents, loyal and true. And like Eli, I soon realized I never wanted to leave them. For readers who like a mix of drama, comedy, and romance (with plenty of steam), Hotel of Secrets is a rare treat. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Captain’s Fury (Codex Alera #4) by Jim Butcher: This feels like a turning point in the series, as secrets are revealed, actions taken, and characters repositioned for the next stage of the drama. There are some great character moments, too, and while I can guess where some are headed, others have me less sure, which is always a fun place to find myself. I even found that a certain a character I would never have expected to like has become a favorite. And that’s to the credit of Butcher because my opinion of fictional characters usually doesn’t change much after my initial impression is set. I’m excited to see what he has in store for book 5!
—b
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