The Invention of Fire

It's been a long time since I read a medieval mystery so I suppose I was about due. The Invention of Fire, was a complex, literary novel filled with a large cast and several simultaneous stories. It's not for the faint of heart. Sixteen corpses were discovered in a London sewage ditch, and John Gower (think Little Finger from Game of Thrones but waay less handsome) has been told in secret that he should investigate. What he uncovers is a nest of half truths, flat out lies and dangerous, dangerous motives that will affect all of London. Intriguing, but... slow and a bit hard to get into. For fans of medieval mysteries and Chaucer only.

Batman: The Killing Joke

I don't know what took me soo long to read this classic. Alan Moore is a legend and this book definitely lives up to his reputation. This comic showcases the Joker's madness as he tries to drive the Commissioner Gordon insane by shooting his daughter and then taking him to a carnival of horrors. Throughout the comic we learn about the Joker's troubled past and why he is the way he is. With Batman's help, Gordon is able to stay strong and fight the insanity. Together they must try to defeat the Joker once and for all. Visually stunning.

Enchanted August

Bowen, Brenda. Enchanted August. 7 CDs. unabridged. 8.5 hrs. Books on Tape. 2015. ISBN 9781101915028.

Bowen, an award-winning children's book author, makes her adult debut with this captivating beach read. Young mothers, Lottie and Rose, spy an ad for a cottage for rent on Little Lost Island in Maine. Neither can afford it, but they are desperate for some space from their families, so they place ads of their own looking for two other boarders to share the rent. Their ad turns up the brilliant (albeit publicly shamed) actress, Caroline Dester, and stodgy old Beverly Fisher, who is trying to recoup after the loss of his pet. This quartet of quirky renters fall in love with the island and its ways and despite their differences, start to befriend one another. The island is the perfect place for them to come to terms with failed careers, marriages, dreams, and heartbreak. Narrator, Sierra Boggess, does a fantastic job of bringing to life the flawed, yet beautiful characters. Verdict For fans of light, breezy, beach reads. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

Ms. Marvel: Crushed

This series just keeps getting more impressive, the third installment is no exception. In this issue Kamala saves Loki from ruining the school dance, discovers that she isn't the only inhuman with super powers in Jersey, and meets the boy of her dreams; a desi boy who her parents would actually approve of. Life is going great... until it's not. hit hits the fan in a very big day. Can Ms. Marvel save the day, is the job too big for even her? Who are the people she can trust to back her up when she needs it? Solid installment and I can't wait for the next one!

Love May Fail

Anything Matthew Quick writes is cause for celebration. This book is no different. In all honesty, it may be one of my favorites from him. I ADORE the characters in this quirky, offbeat, feelgood novel, and you can't help but rooting for all of them. As with Quick's other novels, this book deals with mental illness (hoarding, depression) and even throws in some opiate addiction. The story is told through the perspectives of four wildly diverse characters: Portia Kane, a recently liberated woman who had been married to a pornographer, Mr. Vernon, a former high school english teacher contemplating suicide, a zany nun who is on her deathbed and just wants to hear from her son, and Chuck Bass, an ex-heroin  addict who just wants to fall in love and be an elementary teacher. All four characters find themselves intertwined, can they save themselves? Find love? Rekindle that old spark? A fantastic read and I can't wait for the next Quick novel!

Sweet

I finished this book in one day. I loved it. I almost felt as if it could be an episode of X-Files or something.

When Laurel accepts her best friend's invitation to go on a weight loss cruise, she has no idea what to expect. The cruise is celebrating the launch of Solu, a new diet supplement that is supposed to melt the weight off you. Everyone on the ship is estimated to lose at least 5% of the body weight during the week of the cruise. Viv is beyond excited, she hates her body, and can't wait to shed some pounds, Laurel on the other hand, is completely happy with the way she looks. Sure she could stand to lose a pound or two, but it doesn't bother her. While on board, they bump into many celebrities and overweight rich people, but one man in particular catches Laurel's eye, Tom. Tom is a former child star, and absolutely stunning. He is the official host of the cruise, and besides Laurel, might be the only one not taking Solu. After a few random encounters the two find themselves growing closer as Laurel and Viv find themselves growing more distant. The Solu is having a weird effect on people and each day the signs are more noticeable. Can Tom and Laurel get to the bottom of it before it's too late? An exciting fresh young adult read!

The Blondes

Any book that has rave reviews from both Margaret Atwood AND Stephen King deserves to be checked out. Plus the premise of a plague that only targets blonde women (natural or dyed) and turns them into frenzied, evil attacking machines is just too cool to miss out on. The plot is cool, but the pacing and the main character left a little to be desired for me. I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it. The main character, Hazel Hayes, isn't the most likable of characters. She's pregnant and unsure of anything she kind of drifts around in her narration and it can be a little maddening at times. The other characters though are pretty memorable. Her lover's (and baby's father) wife is pretty over the top, but in a weird, good way. I would definitely give this book a try, I just don't know how much you'll fall in love with it.