Audiobook Review: My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: My Salty Mary
Series: Mary, #3
Authors: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
Narrator: Nneka Okoye
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: August 20, 2024
Print length: 448 pages
Audiobook length: 10 hours 54 minutes
Genre: Young adult
Source: Purchased
Rating:

Perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, New York Times bestselling authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows are back with a fantastical, romantical, and piratical historical fantasy remix that marries the story of The Little Mermaid with the life and times of infamous lady pirate Mary Read.

Don’t call this mermaid “little”—call her “captain,” unless you want to walk the plank.

Mary is in love with the so-called prince of Charles Town, except he doesn’t love her back. Which is inconvenient. Since she’s a mermaid, being brokenhearted means she’ll—poof!—turn into sea-foam.

But instead, Mary finds herself pulled out of the sea and up onto a pirate ship. To survive, she joins them. But Mary isn’t willing to just sing the yo-ho-hos. She wants the pirate life, all of it, and she’s ready to make a splash . . . by becoming captain. But when Blackbeard dies suddenly, Mary has a chance to become so much more: Pirate King . . . or Queen. She won’t let anyone stop her—not Blackbeard’s cute son, not her best friend from back under the sea who’s having a bit too much fun with his new legs, and certainly not everyone who says she can’t be a pirate just because she’s a girl.

She may not be the best man for the job, but she’ll definitely prove that she’s worth her salt.

Yo ho ho! The talented trio who gave us fresh, funny spins on the lives of Mary, Queen of Scots and Mary Shelley is back with an upside-down, inside-out story of infamous pirates Mary Read, Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, and more! After loving the Janie series (about Lady Jane Grey, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre, and Calamity Jane), I couldn’t resist reading the “Marys” this year. My Salty Mary delivers an entertaining retelling of historical figures… as a mash-up with The Little Mermaid! Who could say no to a premise like that?

As the story opens, the Little Mermaid (aka Mary) is heartbroken. She’s given up her tail to gain human legs and a shot at true love, thanks to a potion from the sea witch — but the man she saved from drowning and has sacrificed everything for is marrying someone else. She’s speechless — not because she gave up her voice in addition to her legs, but because she’s stunned. When her sister Karen (who lives up to the name) shows up, it’s to offer her a way out: Kill the guy and his bride and return to the sea as a mermaid once again… or don’t, and become sea foam when the sun rises, because that’s what happens when mermaids die.

Mary opts for sea foam and throws herself overboard… and is shocked to discover that she hasn’t died, but is, unfortunately, drowning. A passing ship pulls her in, where Mary finds herself aboard the Ranger, a pirate ship captained by the cruel Charles Vane. Captain aside, it’s a mighty fine ship and crew, and Mary finds a place to belong and thrive, although since women are considered bad luck on ships, she takes on the name Mark and hides her true identity.

It’s a pirate’s life for Mary! She rises from cabin boy to quartermaster over the next year, leading the crew on successful raids while Vance is too drunk to be of any use, and is fast friends with the ship’s navigator Toby, who just happens to be the youngest son of Blackbeard himself. When Blackbeard is reported dead, the pirate community holds a contest to name the new Pirate King. Mary, fighting for equal rites among pirates, is determined to win — even though Vance wants to expose her true identity as a woman, which would result not only in disqualification from the contest, but likely punishment (death) for “betraying” other pirates.

*Side note: It was impossible for me to read this book and not think about the characters from the Black Sails TV series — seen here: Jack Rackham, Charles Vance, Anne Bonny*

Mary is joined by her beloved cousin Jack, who also finds a way to shed his mer tail and walk around on human legs, and who loves human clothing and company more than actually, you know, pirating… but he’s willing to be a pirate (arrrgh!) to please his true love Anne Bonny, who is fierce and magnetic and demands to be taken seriously. With Jack (aka Calico Jack, aka Jack Rackham), Toby, and Anne by her side, Mary has staunch allies and stands a fighting chance, despite the steep opposition coming at them from the more traditional (i.e., misogynistic) pirates.

My Salty Mary is a rollicking adventure full of piratical adventure on the high seas — and some very funny scenes at the local tavern, where the elder statesmen of the pirate community (the AARP — Admirable Association of Retired Pirates), headed by Captains Hornigold, Morgan, and Hook, preside over the rowdy Pirate King competition, to the cheers of other notable pirate Captains — including Crunch, Obvious, Ahab, and Penzance. (It really helps to enjoy puns and corny jokes if you’re going to read this book — I personally found them all really endearing)

And they’d gained thirty-six men, among them a new cooper, which was great because they’d really been scraping the bottom of the barrel when they’d hired the old one.

The authors seem to be quite fond of Titanic references (for random examples, see My Contrary Mary… and yes, there really are Titanic references in a book about Mary, Queen of Scots). Here, the references are just as silly and fun:

“I’ll never let go, Jack! I’ll never let go!” Anne sobbed as Mary hauled her away from the rail.

… and …

“Do you remember the necklace we found that one time?” Mary asked out of the blue.

“Necklace?” Jack thought back. “Oh, the pretty, sparkly one with the big blue heart-shaped jewel? The one some idiot just tossed overboard from a ship?”

And if you were thinking it couldn’t get much sillier… well, a Ted Lasso stand-in, a TED Talk, and a shell phone (where you can play Crabby Crush) are just some of the bits and pieces thrown in amidst all the rum, hooks, and parrots.

The authors weave in some social messaging too — nothing too preachy, but we do get some more serious thoughts about equality for women, freedom to choose, and the rights of formerly enslaved people now living within the pirate community. Mary’s pitch to become Pirate Queen even includes a rallying cry for paid parental leave with job protection!

As with the rest of the books in both the Jane and Mary series, My Salty Mary is silly, over the top, very funny, and non-stop entertaining. I was perhaps a smidge less engaged here than with the other books. I didn’t quite connect with Mary as a person as much as I did with the main characters in the other books, and I would have liked a bit more mermaid life mixed in with all the pirate adventures. That’s okay, though — I still had a really good time!

The narration by Nneka Okoye is lively and dynamic, with terrific character voices (and lots of very effective pirate exclamations). She even sings a bit (during one of Captain Penzance’s performances, naturally). The pacing is terrific, and despite being a bit on the long side, the audiobook absolutely zips by.

I’m a bit sad to have reached the end of the Mary books. I haven’t heard anything (yet!) about the authors starting a new series… but we can hope!

Yo ho!

Interested in the Jane books? Check out:

And don’t miss the first two Marys:

My Contrary Mary
My Imaginary Mary

Purchase links for My Salty Mary: Amazon – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

22Jul2026

Book Review: We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders, #1) by Richard Osman

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: We Solve Murders
Series: We Solve Murders, #1
Author: Richard Osman
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication date: September 17, 2024
Length: 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Source: Library
Rating:

A brand new mystery. An iconic new detective duo. And a thrilling new murder to solve . . .

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She’s currently on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise. So she sends an SOS to the only person she trusts . . .

As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer?

Solving murders. It’s a family business.

After devouring every book in the Thursday Murder Club series, how could I possibly resist checking out Richard Osman’s newest series starter?

We Solve Murders retains the sense of hijinks and emphasis on quirky characters that make the Thursday Murder Club books such incredible fun. Here, the main characters are Amy Wheeler, a tough-as-nails bodyguard who excels at protecting the people under her charge and hitting the people who threaten them, and Steve Wheeler, her widowed father-in-law who seems to want nothing more than a quiet life in his little British village — with the weekly pub quiz thrown in for excitement.

Amy’s current job is protecting Rosie D’Antonio, the world’s #2 bestselling mystery writer, a woman of indeterminate age with audacious style and more money than she knows what to do with. Rosie got on the bad side of a Russian oligarch by putting him in one of her books, and now her life is at risk, so she and Amy are tucked away on Rosie’s private island, where they should be safe.

Unfortunately, bizarre deaths seem to be occurring amongst the clients of Amy’s employer, and the pattern of these murders is uncomfortably close to Amy’s recent locations. As more threats loom, Amy and Rosie go on the run, and Amy convinces Steve to join them as they race around the globe, outwitting the bad guys and staying one step ahead of the seemingly endless parade of people trying to kill them.

As with Richard Osman’s other books, the characters themselves are even more entertaining than the heist/chase/murder/mystery plot elements. Amy and Steve’s dynamic is especially wonderful, and Rosie is a delicious mix of sassy and bawdy, always up for an adventure and not at all shy about her own success. A delightful cast of supporting characters rounds out the story — including an arrogant action hero actor, a charming airport security agent, Steve’s local mechanic friend, and many more.

The mystery in We Solve Murders is convoluted and a bit mad, and goes in all sorts of strange and unexpected directions. International flights on private jets, as seen through Steve’s experiences, are a hoot, and it’s quite fun to follow the trio from destination to destination in search of clues and safety.

We Solve Murders feels like a great start to a series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what hot water Amy, Steve, and Rosie find themselves in next.

Book #2, We Chase Shadows, will be released in September 2026 — and you can bet that I’ll be reading it just as soon as I can!

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

18Jun2026

Book Review: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Lion Women of Tehran
Author: Marjan Kamali
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: July 2, 2024
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:

In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation.

Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.”

But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.

Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.

The Lion Women of Tehran is a powerful, moving look at the lifelong friendship between two remarkable women, set against the political upheavals of 20th century Iran.

“You know what we’ll both become when we grow up?”

“I do not,” I said.

“Shir zan. Lionesses. Us. Can’t you just see it, Ellie? Someday, you and me—we’ll do great things. We’ll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen.”

Ellie and Homa meet at age seven, as Ellie attends her first day of school after moving “downtown” — to a poor neighborhood of Tehran — after her father’s death. It’s 1950, the Shah is in power, and Ellie’s station in life has changed dramatically, something her aristocratic mother seems unable to accept. Homa, from a lower class family, is full of life and energy, and immediately befriends Ellie. While Ellie’s mother bans Homa from their home, Ellie is welcomed by Homa’s warm, loving family.

But three years later, Ellie’s life shifts again when her mother remarries and they return to the privileged life they’d once enjoyed, leaving the downtown neighborhood — and Homa — behind. The girls may be best friends, but at age ten, their ability to stay connected is limited, and over time they drift apart and lose touch. Years later, they’re reunited when Homa transfers to Ellie’s elite high school, and their bond is soon reestablished.

Ellie’s mother wants what she considers a good life for her daughter — marriage, children, and high standing in Tehran’s upper class society. But Homa encourages Ellie to think differently. They both excel in school; why not pursue a university education and careers? Homa dreams of attending law school, becoming Iran’s first woman judge, and making a true difference in achieving a fair and equitable society. As the friends move into their college years, they remain tightly bonded even as their goals diverge, but Homa’s political activism becomes dangerous, and leads to an unimaginable consequence.

As Ellie and Homa become estranged in their adult lives, neither can forget their friendship and what they once meant to one another. When revolution and war devastate Iran in the 1980s, Homa reaches out to Ellie once again, and the two must fight to reclaim what they once had and find a way to safeguard the people they love.

The overarching theme of life-long friendship adds sweetness and sorrow to this emotional story, even as Iran’s political and religious upheavals threaten the characters’ lives. We may all know the headlines from this time period; The Lion Women of Tehran provides an opportunity to learn about the lives of people who lived through these events. By focusing on Ellie and Homa, who represent two very different walks of life, readers are allowed into the day-to-day experiences of life in Tehran under the Shah and during the early years of the revolution. Their journeys — together and apart — provide a personal lens through which to view these events and understand the impact on individuals within the larger society.

Despite the seriousness, the story includes lovely moments of joy as well. The tastes and smells of the food the girls share add texture to the narrative. Their adventures as girls and young women also show the more beautiful aspects of life in Tehran, helping readers understand the yearning for home and love of their country even when life there becomes extremely dangerous.

Overall, I was incredibly moved by the richly described friendship between Ellie and Homa, and profoundly affected by the upheavals and tragedies in their lives. The Lion Women of Tehran is a beautifully written book. Once again, I find myself grateful that my book group led me to such a wonderful reading experience. Highly recommended.

The author’s website (https://marjankamali.com/) includes a link to download of recipes from the book. They all look amazing!

I’m eager to check out the author’s previous novel, The Stationery Shop. Learn more about it, here.

Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

29Apr2026

Audiobook Review: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Author: Rufi Thorpe
Narrator: Elle Fanning
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication date: June 11, 2024
Print length: 304 pages
Audio length: 10 hours 21 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Library
Rating:

A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman’s attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world—from the PEN/Faulkner finalist and critically acclaimed author of The Knockout Queen.

As the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo Millet’s always known she’d have to make it on her own. So she enrolls at her local junior college, even though she can’t imagine how she’ll ever make a living. She’s still figuring things out and never planned to have an affair with her English professor—and while the affair is brief, it isn’t brief enough to keep her from getting pregnant. Despite everyone’s advice, she decides to keep the baby, mostly out of naiveté and a yearning for something bigger.

Now, at twenty, Margo is alone with an infant, unemployed, and on the verge of eviction. She needs a cash infusion—fast. When her estranged father, Jinx, shows up on her doorstep and asks to move in with her, she agrees in exchange for help with childcare. Then Margo begins to form a plan: she’ll start an OnlyFans as an experiment, and soon finds herself adapting some of Jinx’s advice from the world of wrestling. Like how to craft a compelling character and make your audience fall in love with you. Before she knows it, she’s turned it into a runaway success. Could this be the answer to all of Margo’s problems, or does internet fame come with too high a price?

Blisteringly funny and filled with sharp insight, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a tender tale starring an endearing young heroine who’s struggling to wrest money and power from a world that has little interest in giving it to her. It’s a playful and honest examination of the art of storytelling and controlling your own narrative, and an empowering portrait of coming into your own, both online and off.

When Margo’s Got Money Troubles came out in 2024, I was sure it wasn’t a book for me, despite the buzz I kept seeing. A book about someone starting an OnlyFans account? Nope, no thanks.

But… when the AppleTV adaptation (starring Elle Fanning, who narrates this audiobook) was released a few weeks ago, the reviews were unvaryingly positive — and once I started paying attention, I realized there might be much more to this story than I thought.

So, I borrowed the audiobook from the library, got started… and was immediately captivating by Margo’s narrative voice and the overall excellent storytelling.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles is about a 19-year-old trying to figure things out, without much in the way of parental or other support. A college freshman with a flare for writing, Margo supports herself through waitressing and lives with three roommates in order to make rent. When her (married) English professor takes an interest, Margo falls into a brief affair with him — and when she discovers that she’s pregnant, he tells her to get an abortion and then basically cuts her out of his life completely.

Despite not being at all prepared to become a mother, Margo can’t bring herself to end the pregnancy. Her mother Shyanne is no help whatsoever, being an entirely self-centered woman who sees Margo as an accessory rather than a person separate from herself. Margo’s father Jinx is a former pro wrestler and manager, hugely famous in the wrestling world, who’s always been a guest in Margo’s life, showing up here and there but clearly focused on his “real” family.

Once the baby is born, Margo’s money troubles really hit. Her roommates are furious about the noise a baby makes — they have midterms to study for! She’s fired after leaving a shift due to a baby emergency, and really can’t afford childcare without spending all the money meant for rent. When Jinx shows up needing a place to stay, it’s perfect timing, since two of the roommates have left in a huff. Jinx’s splitting the rent isn’t a long-term solution, but Margo appreciates his help and companionship. One night, watching a wrestling match together, he casually mentions that a particular woman wrestler has struck it rich via OnlyFans… and Margo has to know more.

Let me pause here to say that while the plot may sound somewhat tawdry, it’s anything but — and the key is Margo herself. Funny and smart, Margo tells her story with humor and with a narrative flare.

The sadness from the morning didn’t exactly go away; it dried on me and slowly crumbled, leaving me covered in little flakes, like if you eat a glazed donut in a black shirt.

She alternates between first person and third person throughout the book, which initially feels like an odd choice, but gives Margo room to tell both a straightforward account of her life and a story with a more fanciful feel.

As Margo describes her investigation of OnlyFans and how she might use it as a source of income, it’s clear that her creative spark, once nurtured through her writing classes, has found a new source of inspiration. Margo is curious about what makes someone stand out, and what makes subscribers keep coming back. It’s Jinx who’s able to supply some critical advice. Drawing from his wresting career, they discuss “faces” versus “heels” (hero characters and villain characters), how to draw attention, and what keeps a crowd interested and engaged. Margo isn’t interested in just posting nudes for a few dollars; she wants to know how to succeed online, and engages in some incredibly creative research and outreach to figure it all out.

Margo never would have guessed she loved money this much. In fact, in the movies and TV shows and books she’d read, you could tell if a character was the bad guy by how much he cared about money. And since she wanted to be good, she’d always been careful not to care too much about money. Now she wondered if all those Disney movies were merely propaganda to keep poor people content with their lot.

Meanwhile, her struggles with her mother, and the return of her baby’s father (with a potential custody battle) create tension in her personal life, especially when she starts to achieve the type of viral success she’d hoped for. And I must point out: Margo is a terrific mother. She may struggle financially, have some odd people in her life, and does something very unconventional as her job — but she loves little Bodhi and is a gem when it comes to caring for him and providing him with safety and showers of affection.

Elle Fanning’s narration is fabulous. Her voice for Margo is full of the character’s spirit; the humor and intelligence come through even when Margo is going through some of her worst challenges. I didn’t want to stop listening!

Margo’s Got Money Troubles is highly engaging and entertaining, and it also has a lot to say about reputation, finding one’s own way, and non-conventional families. Margo’s solution to her money troubles certainly isn’t for everyone — but it’s incredibly fun and even inspiring to see her figure out a way to be creative and support her baby through sheer willpower and a kooky sort of talent.

Highly recommended (and do check out the audiobook version if you can).

I’m hoping to start the TV adaptation this week — can’t wait to see how it compares!

Purchase links: Amazon – Audible – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

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5Apr2026

Book Review: The Gathering by C. J. Tudor

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Gathering
Author: C. J. Tudor
Publisher: Ballantine
Publication date: April 9, 2024
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Horror
Source: Library
Rating:

A detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town in this riveting novel from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?

In the world of The Gathering, vampyrs are a protected species, living in small, isolated communities called Colonies, with certain rights but also many restrictions — such as being forbidden to mix with human or to hold jobs. Alaska is a natural choice for a vampyr settlement, given the long hours of darkness and the remote landscape.

When the town of Deadhart reports a vampyr killing — the first it’s experienced in 25 years — the Department of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology sends veteran detective Barbara Atkins to investigate. If her investigation confirms that vampyrs are responsible, she’ll be authorized to call for a cull — a government-sanctioned hunt to kill the vampyrs of the nearby Colony in order to remove a deadly threat to the humans in the area.

Deadhart residents are ready to start the hunt immediately, but Barbara senses that there’s more to the story, and very quickly finds inconsistencies related to the murder that lead her to dig deeper. Through her investigation, she discovers new facts related to the previous vampyr killing in Deadhart, including highly unsavory information about the town’s sordid treatment of vampyrs decades earlier. The pressure is on — if Barbara doesn’t sanction a cull quickly, the townspeople may just take matters into their own hands. But the more she uncovers, the more Barbara believes that the culprit may not be a member of the Colony after all — and as the bodies pile up, her own safety is on the line as she makes fresh enemies among the humans of Deadheart.

The Gathering has a terrific premise — the existence of vampyrs, the protections around them, but also the laws allowing them to be hunted and destroyed if warranted. It’s a fascinating dynamic, especially once we’re introduced to members of the Colony and see inside their settlement.

The claustrophobic nature of winter in Deadhart is vividly portrayed. The town is isolated, cut off by unpredictable weather, and very insular. Its residents go back generations, and there are countless old rivalries and grudges to unpack. Barbara makes an excellent viewpoint character, arriving as an outsider into a community already on edge, seeking to carry out her work despite the mounting tensions and lack of cooperation from the townspeople.

I was intrigued by the history of the town and the Colony. Likewise, I found the descriptions of the supporting cast of characters endlessly interesting, with trouble-prone teens, a rabble-rousing preacher, old-timers who remember the bad old days, and people just trying to get by. Still, the characters themselves are perhaps my one small area of complaint — there are so many named characters that keeping them and their backstories straight can be challenging at times.

Overall, though, I loved reading The Gathering. The Alaska setting and the unique status of vampyrs combine to provide a truly fresh take on a vampire story. There’s gore, but it’s not overwhelming — I’d consider this book something of a horror/mystery mashup. Both genres are well-represented, and blend together seamlessly for an absorbing read.

The epilogue ends on a note that leaves the door open for another story set in this world. I’d love to read a sequel! Meanwhile, this was my first book by C. J. Tudor, and now I’m eager to explore more of her books. If you have recommendations, please let me know!

19Mar2026

Book Review: Mania by Lionel Shriver

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Mania
Author: Lionel Shriver
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication date: April 9, 2024
Length: 388 pages
Genre: Dystopian / alternative reality
Source: Library
Rating:

What if calling someone stupid was illegal? In a reality not too distant from our own, where the so-called Mental Parity Movement has taken hold, the worst thing you can call someone is ‘stupid’.

Everyone is equally clever, and discrimination based on intelligence is ‘the last great civil rights fight’.

Exams and grades are all discarded, and smart phones are rebranded. Children are expelled for saying the S-word and encouraged to report parents for using it. You don’t need a qualification to be a doctor.

Best friends since adolescence, Pearson and Emory find themselves on opposing sides of this new culture war. Radio personality Emory – who has built her career riding the tide of popular thought – makes increasingly hard-line statements while, for her part, Pearson believes the whole thing is ludicrous.

As their friendship fractures, Pearson’s determination to cling onto the ‘old, bigoted way of thinking’ begins to endanger her job, her safety and even her family.

Lionel Shriver turns her piercing gaze on the policing of opinion and intellect, and imagines a world in which intellectual meritocracy is heresy. Hilarious, deadpan, scathing and at times frighteningly plausible, MANIA will delight the many fans of her fiction and journalism alike.

Mania has got to be one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. This depiction of an alternate reality where Mental Parity is the new normal imagines a society where variation in intelligence is considered a myth. All are equally capable. All are equally intelligent. Some people may just process differently.

As narrated by main character Pearson Converse, what starts as a ridiculous idea — the idea that mental parity is the “last great civil rights fight” — takes over the country and much of the world. From a fringe cultural phenomenon, mental parity (MP) becomes a strident, powerful force for overturning everything from school (grades are eliminated, because all children are equally intelligent) to university admissions (strictly lottery based, because all are equally qualified) to employment opportunities, parenting, and all manner of social discourse.

Pearson, an English instructor at what was once considered a high-prestige liberal arts college, finds her hands increasingly tied as her surly students practically dare her to step out of line so they can report her to an MPC (Mental Parity Champion).

Even language becomes strictly policed. Words used to denote levels of intelligence are grossly offensive — stupid and dumb being prime examples — but over time, even words used in other contexts are stricken because they could possibly denote judgment that defies the concepts of mental parity. Can’t talk about the deep end of a swimming pool, because “deep” has a nasty association with the myth that some people are “deeper” than others — so let’s just refer to the end of the pool with more water. Also ruled out are words like dull or sharp, even in the context of kitchen knives, or brilliant as in the stars in the sky, or profound… as in deep… as in… oops, never mind.

As time passes and adherence to MP becomes absolute, Pearson finds herself increasingly on the outs with her former best friend Emory, someone with whom she was once aligned on just about everything. Now, Emory seems to have traded in her personal belief system in order to bolster her broadcast career, becoming a star commentator on CNN by offering high profile opinion pieces on the evils of those who oppose MP. Meanwhile, Pearson’s family life is increasingly at risk, as stepping a toe out of line brings down the wrath of Child Protective Services and puts her job (and financial survival) in danger.

Mania is clearly satirical, but what exactly is the author satirizing? At times, the MP world seems to be aligned with MAGA viewpoints denigrating academics and intellectuals as out-of-touch elitists, and the total undermining of scientific rigor mirrors some views of the MAHA movement. And yet, the hyperfocus on policing word choice and sanding away the edges of anything that ever might possibly offend anyone can also speak to what some see as the excesses of “wokeness”. The point, I think, is to show the damage of any sort of extremism taking over rational society — and as we see in Mania, bouncing from one extreme to another as the pendulum of societal norms swings to correct itself poses fresh set of dangers too.

I puzzled over the language in Mania. Pearson’s narration of her life is full of overstuffed sentences and pretentious, convoluted wording. I often had to stop to parse out what a particular sentence might mean. Not having read anything by this author previously, I was left to wonder: Is this delivery typical of this author, or is this meant to show how Pearson holds herself apart and embraces her intellectual superiority even while trying to survive in a world where the use of big words is derided as “brain-vain” or “smartist”? Yet Pearson repeats throughout the book that even while she’s adamantly opposed to MP and its concepts, she herself isn’t all that smart. And so, I remain a bit baffled by the character’s delivery of her life story.

A few examples:

To my embarrassment, here I am relating picayune points of philological fascism—the death of the “dumbbell”—while, out in the rest of the world, events of more considerable moment were afoot.

Emory’s ducking-below-the-parapet strategy had much to recommend it. We could keep our heads down, shuffling the world in camouflage like soldiers wearing dun in the desert, duly observing every new linguistic prohibition and suppressing perceptions of our species once prevailing, now retrograde, the better not to stand out.

Needless to say, heroin users were no longer “dope fiends,” although if you were an opioid addict, surely having your perspicacity traduced was the least of your problems.

The author weaves our own world into the story, warping people and events to suit this strange alternate reality. Obama is president… but only for one term. His brand of intellectualism is a huge turn-off — prime example of being brain-vain! — but his VP, Biden — with his lost trains of thought and awkward public speeches — is a perfect MP president. He’s just as intelligent as everyone else! Because everyone is just as intelligent as everyone else!

Even later, political standards become yet more entrenched in MP:

It’s now taken as a given that for any candidate to be seriously considered for either major party’s presidential nomination next year, he or she will necessarily be badly educated, uninformed, poorly spoken, crass, oblivious to the rest of the world, unattractive and preferably fat, unsolicitous of advice from the more experienced, suspicious of expertise, inclined to violate constitutional due process if only from perfect ignorance of the Constitution, self-regarding without justification, and boastful about what once would have been perceived as his or her shortcomings. We blithely assume that whoever is elected president will surround him- or herself with mediocrities or worse and purposefully appoint a cabinet whose leading credentials are having no credentials.

Hmm. Does that ring any bells?

My ratings graphic only allows full and half stars; otherwise, I would have rated Mania at 3.25. It’s better than a 3-star read, which to me is a “meh”, but I can’t bring myself to go all the way to 3.5, which would imply that it succeeds much more than I feel is accurate. Despite the weirdness of so much of the story, Mania still pulled me in. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. I just can’t say that I loved it.

I recommend Mania as a thought experiment and as a very different sort of reading experience. There’s a lot to chew on, despite being so totally outside the scope of believability. Mania is commentary on all sorts of societal woes, dressed up as the story of a woman’s struggle to hold onto the truth even if it costs her everything.

Mania was my book group’s pick for March, and I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone else thought of it. Despite its strangeness, this book is probably a great one for kicking off a lively discussion!

Interested in learning more? Here’s a round-up of reviews:
New York Times
The Guardian
NPR
Kirkus
The Times (UK)

1Mar2026

Audiobook Review: Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Author: Sophie Cousens
Narrator: Kerry Gilbert
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication date: November 19, 2024
Print length: 368 pages
Audio length: 11 hours 42 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

In this feel-good romance, 37-year-old Anna is trying to bounce back from divorce — which is especially hard now that her ex has moved his much younger girlfriend into his home, yet can’t be bothered to do the kids’ laundry or make sure their homework is done when they’re with him. What’s more, Anna’s career as a columnist is at risk when Bath Living is acquired by someone more focused on profits than on great writing. Anna’s new publisher wants her column to be edgier and more personal, and she just doesn’t know if she has it in her. But, her annoying (and attractive) coworker seems to be angling for her column space, and she’s determined not to let him win… so she pitches one last desperate idea for a new dating-themed column.

After trying online dating, with the expected awful results, Anna wonders if it’s possible to find romance in real life anymore. Her kids are eager to set her up, and a concept is born: Anna will go on seven dates, with people selected by the kiddos. What could possibly go wrong?

From a fishing trip with a painful ending to a Regency encounter to a setup with the grumpy widower next door, Anna goes on a series of dates — some ending with awkwardness, one proving that you should never meet your idols, and one that results in an ill-advised tattoo. None are exactly successful, but they do make for entertaining column material.

Meanwhile, the office rivalry with Will goes from barely tolerating each other as coworkers to something much more NSFW… but Anna doesn’t see a future with Will, who seems to be destined for jetsetting career success while she is firmly tied to her roots in Bath. But they do have undeniable chemistry, so even as she continues to date according to her kids’ whims, she can’t help but wonder if there’s any possible scenario where she and Will could actually have more than casual hook-ups.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? is a charming look at the ups and downs of reentering the dating scene after marriage, with an engaging, bright main character who’s a delight to get to know. A devoted mother, Anna struggles to balance her home and work commitments, and can’t imagine ever putting herself first… but through the dating experiment, she’s reminded of experiences that bring her joy, such a rediscovering her creative, artistic side and finding an upbeat, life-affirming new friend when she least expects it.

One of the many pleasures of this book is seeing Anna coming out of her dates with new connections — not in terms of romantic partners, but finding people to engage with outside of her worlds of home and office, and finding ways to break out of her routine in a way that benefits all the people in her life.

Of course, the romantic storyline is important too, and while I was initially skeptical about reading yet another enemies-to-lovers story arc, this is a good one! There are plenty of reasons why Will and Anna shouldn’t work, and while it’s clear from the start that their pairing is the book’s endgame, it’s quite fun to see the ups and downs along their path to figuring it all out.

The less said about the 3rd act break up, the better: It’s one of my least favorite tropes — the old “breaking up with you for your own good”, with a smattering of “pretending never to have cared so it’ll be easier for you to walk away”. Fortunately, this part flies by pretty quickly and honesty prevails, but still… this was the only part of the book that annoyed me.

The audiobook narration by Kerry Gilbert is light and whimsical, with the humor very well captured by her character voices and delivery. I enjoyed the listening experience very much — it kept me engaged and entertained.

All in all, Is She Really Going Out With Him? is a lot of fun, and I look forward to trying more by this author.

Any favorites to recommend?

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5Feb2026

Book Review: The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock, #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Boy Who Cried Bear
Series: Haven’s Rock, #2
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: February 20, 2024
Length: 339 pages
Genre: Thriller/mystery
Source: Library
Rating:

In The Boy Who Cried Bear, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong keeps readers on the edge of their seats while detective Casey Duncan tries to locate the threat before it’s too late. . .

Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren’t allowed to wander off alone.

When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

I think I’ve made it clear by now just how much I love Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and its spin-off, Haven’s Rock. I’m happy to say (no big surprise!) that the 2nd Haven’s Rock novel is just as strong and engaging as the previous books. Take a terrific premise and setting, mix in a twisty, high-stakes crime to solve… and you get a book like The Boy Who Cried Bear, which kept me hooked from start to finish.

In a nutshell: Husband/wife, sheriff/detective team Eric and Casey now have their first set of residents in their secret little town of Haven’s Rock, a remote place deep in the Yukon wilderness, where people needing safety and anonymity can hide away for a few years. There are rules, of course — no cell phones, no contact with the outside world, do your share of work, and stay out of the forest! That last piece can be hardest to enforce. For newcomers, the dangers of being outside town limits aren’t necessarily as obvious as they should be, which is why Eric and Casey have their hands full keeping people safe.

Among the town’s new batch of residents are a widowed mother and her two sons. After witnessing a crime and providing testimony, the family entered a witness protection program, only to be tracked down and attacked in retaliation, leaving the father dead and the survivors traumatized. At Haven’s Rock, they hope to find both refuge and a place to start healing. But when 10-year-old Max disappears after venturing into the forest, Haven’s Rock goes on full alert. It’s up to Casey and Eric to track the missing boy, and to figure out whether the potential kidnapper is an outside threat or someone sheltering within their little town.

Once again, it’s fantastic to see Casey and Eric in action. Their investigations are always a thrill. Here, the crime itself is up for debate: Has the outside world caught up with the family, threatening not just them but also the very existence of Haven’s Rock? Is there a madman out in the forest, potentially stalking town residents? Or does the threat have something to do with the heavily armed mining camp located several miles from Haven’s Rock, with which Casey and Eric have established an uneasy truce?

Meanwhile, a new development in Casey and Eric’s relationship leaves them reeling and with plenty of questions about what their future might hold. No spoilers from me… but I will say that they’ve never been stronger as a couple, and their honesty and commitment continue to be powerful and inspiring.

The mystery itself takes plenty of twists and turns throughout the book, with misleading clues, people acting badly even if not directly linked to the crime, and questionable characters providing information that’s not entirely reliable. The ending is very interesting — the crime is solved, but not every last bit of the puzzle has an answer, setting up what’s likely to be an ongoing source of tension and danger within the world of the Haven’s Rock series.

Obviously, I love this series, and recommend it highly! I’d suggest starting right at the beginning of the Rockton series, and going on from there. While the mysteries are always excellent, my favorite elements are those related to Casey and Eric’s relationship and the various close friends and associates who make up the communities of Rockton and Haven’s Rock. The character development over the course of these series is excellent, and is a big factor in how very compelling these books are.

I’ll be diving into the 3rd book in the series, Cold As Hell, just as soon as I can… and after that, I’ll be ready for the upcoming new release, First Sign of Danger. Here’s hoping Kelley Armstrong continues writing many, many more books in this series!

Interested in the worlds of Rockton and Haven’s Rock? Check out my reviews of these previous books:
City of the Lost (Rockton, #1)
A Darkness Absolute (Rockton, #2)
This Fallen Prey (Rockton, #3)
Watcher in the Woods (Rockton, #4)
Alone in the Wild (Rockton, #5)
A Stranger in Town (Rockton, #6)
The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7)
Dead Letter Days (Rockton, #7.5)
Murder at Haven’s Rock (Haven’s Rock, #1)

Purchase links: Amazon – Audible – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

5Nov2025

Audiobook Review: Elizabeth of East Hampton (For the Love of Austen, #2) by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Elizabeth of East Hampton
Series: For the Love of Austen, #2
Author: Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
Narrators: Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: August 6, 2024
Print length: 384 pages
Audio length: 9 hours 54 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

This fresh and whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice transports you to summer in the Hamptons, where classes clash, rumors run wild, and love has a frustrating habit of popping up where you least expect it.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too.

But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.

Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.

Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.

Back in September — on a vacation that seems like it happened waaaaaay too long ago — I read this author duo’s first Austen spin, Emma of 83rd Street. It was a lot of fun, but at the time, I wasn’t sure about continuing the series, fearing I’d get tired of rich New Yorkers in a big hurry, despite the Austen themes.

Well, I’m back to say that I dove back in after all, and I’m glad I did! Elizabeth of East Hampton is a clever, engaging retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which admirably succeeds in relocating Elizabeth and Darcy to the Hampton shores… and even turns Lizzy into a surfer!

Lizzy is one of five Bennet sisters, and she’s taken responsibility for running her family bakery ever since her father’s stroke earlier in the year, even though that’s meant deferring her dream of enrolling in Columbia’s prestigious journalism program. Family comes first — although the Bennets can be hard to take, especially the intensely needy and oblivious Mrs. Bennet, party girl Lydia, and environmental activist Mary.

When Charlie Pierce walks into Bennet Bakery with his friend Will Darcy, the Bennet family’s lives are turned upside down. Charlie is renting an extremely expensive East Hampton beach house (beach mansion would be more accurate) — and he’s instantly smitten with Lizzy’s sweet older sister Jane. Unlike Charlie and Jane, Lizzy and Darcy do not click… their antagonism is clear right from the start.

Elizabeth of East Hampton follows the major P&P beats, but with charming twists. It’s often disconcerting to see Austen tales transposed into modern settings, where plot points like looking for wealthy husbands can seem jarring, to say the least. Here, though, the authors really succeed at keeping the bones and feel of the original while making the modern-day story make sense.

The focus is not marriage, but love. Lizzy and Darcy’s chemistry is apparent from the start, even if they don’t realize it. The dynamic of ridiculously wealthy people summering in the Hamptons vs the local folks trying to make a living off the tourist who invade their town for a few months every year works really well at conveying themes of class differences and snobbery. The Bennet family’s dynamics are really entertaining — casting Mary as a rebel activist is a hoot.

It’s quite fun to figure out how the various characters fit into the Austen framework. Some key Austen characters are missing here (no Mr. Collins, and Darcy is an only child, so no Georgiana either). The replacement for Lady Catherine de Bourgh is really entertaining, and the Wickham stand-in is just as sleazy as you’d expect. (No spoilers from me, but I loved that the Wickham scandal unfolds really differently than in P&P).

The audiobook narrators are terrific, although I don’t always love Teddy Hamilton’s line delivery. Still, the alternating chapters from Lizzy and Darcy’s perspectives provide great insights into their actions, and the audio experience zips along and keeps things lively.

I’ll share the same complaint I had while listening to Emma of 83rd Street — I prefer my Austen retellings with closed bedroom doors, thank you very much! There’s something really disturbing about having to endure explicit sex scenes with Jane Austen characters, even if these are modern-day versions of them. I do not need to know what Darcy and Lizzy get up to in bed (or on the floor… or in the kitchen…)

That quibble aside, I had a lot of fun with Elizabeth of East Hampton (and enjoyed seeing George and Emma pop in for quick visits too). At this point, I can safely say that I’ll be picking up the next book just as soon as my library gets a copy!

*Next in series: Anne of Avenue A (a Persuasion retelling)*

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8Oct2025

Book Review: Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Lucy Undying
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Length: 464 pages
Genre: Horror
Source: Purchased
Rating:

In this epic and seductive gothic fantasy, a vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love.

Her name was written in the pages of someone else’s story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula’s first victims.

But her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire, and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula’s clutches–and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn when, in twenty-first-century London, she meets another woman who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. But she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris, while Iris is mesmerized by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by forces from without. Iris’s mother won’t let go of her without a fight, and Lucy’s past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl again.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

Dracula stories never seem to go out of style, and it’s a pleasure to discover a new Dracula tale that remains faithful to the original in most details while also spinning the story out into new directions, with new interpretations of familiar events and characters.

“Lying about the existence of monsters never saved anyone from falling victim to them.”

Lucy Undying is set mainly in the present day, with flashbacks told through journal entries and other recorded documents. Surprisingly, the first character we meet in the modern era is not Lucy, but Iris, daughter of a recently deceased, utterly ruthless businesswoman. Iris is in London to take possession of a family property that she’s inherited, but it’s obvious from the start that there are an infinite number of strings attached. With her mother’s death, Iris is the sole heir to her family’s billion dollar business — but all she wants is out.

Crossing a busy street, American-raised Iris looks the wrong way and is saved from being flattened by a passing taxi by a beautiful stranger. She’s young, lovely, and kind, offers helpful tips on dealing with London traffic, and then disappears into a crowd. But their paths cross again: Iris discovers that the London property is in terrible shape, and she’s determined to sell whatever antiques or valuables she can find there, then attempt to disappear for good. When Iris calls a museum to ask for a referral to an appraiser, it’s that same stranger who shows up at Iris’s door — just as beautiful as Iris remembers, and more than willing to help Iris with her project.

Meanwhile, other narrative threads provide different storylines. The journals of Lucy Westenra take us back to Dracula’s time, as Lucy provides a first-person account of her life with a sickly, controlling mother, her secret love for her former governess Mina Murray, and the unwanted courtships of three men who seem to circle Lucy — John Seward, Quincey Morris, and Arthur Holmwood. And in still another thread, we have transcripts of Lucy’s sessions with a therapist… showing that Lucy is very much alive (or at least undead) in the present day, despite the version of events we may have learned from Bram Stoker.

As the various threads weave together, what emerges is a fascinating what-if: What if Lucy Westenra rose from her grave after being turned by Dracula — not to be staked and vanquished, as we’ve been told, but to roam the earth for over a century since then? Parallel to this is Iris’s journey, as she attempts to unravel the secrets of her family’s cult-like, multi-level marketing conglomerate, which has its own weird ties to Lucy’s world.

Without giving too much away, all I can say is that author Kiersten White has created a complicated, fascinating story that pulls together the essentials of Stoker’s novel and blends these with a chilling, modern day horror tale. The corporate entanglements of Iris’s family seem bizarre at first, but as the connections become clear, it all makes a hideous sort of sense.

I loved how faithfully the author depicts the core beats of the original Dracula story, then spins them into a version whose interpretations — while certainly different — never actually contradict the source material. I would highly recommend a basic familiarity with Dracula before reading Lucy Undying — yes, it could still be enjoyable without, but I think it would lose quite a bit of its “oomph” otherwise.

I did find it curious that in the world of Lucy Undying, the cultural/literary phenomenon of Dracula seems to be an unknown. This is a modern world where the Bram Stoker novel never existed? The name Dracula does not seem to have larger cultural connotations beyond the events unfolding in Iris’s world; he’s a figure from Lucy’s past whose influence is felt across the years, but that’s it. I kept waiting for Iris to say, “Dracula?? For real? Oh, you’re THAT Lucy??” — but it never happened.

There comes a point in the story where Lucy’s past (and connection to the origin story) has been fully explored, and the narrative focus shifts primarily to the modern-day storyline. That’s the point in the book where I started feeling a little less invested. It’s still a good story, but unravelling the sinister corporate secrets behind Iris’s family fortune is slightly less compelling than learning how Lucy evolved over the many years since her transformation.

Lucy Undying is a long book, but my attention never wavered. At times, the story becomes almost too complicated… but fear not! With a bit of focus and patience, it all makes sense by the end, and answers that were hidden or withheld for much of the book are finally provided.

The writing is engaging, sometimes dwelling on the horror — lots of body parts and gore — but often with funny, sly twists or clever phrasing to offer a bit of light-hearted relief.

Then I sat and thought of Mina and had a nice, self-indulgent cry. Sometimes a girl finds herself alone at the feet of an unknown land, covered in grime, having just decapitated a stranger, and it’s all too much.

I truly enjoyed Lucy Undying, and while I strongly recommend reading Dracula first, I’m sure Lucy Undying could be enjoyed on its own as well. This is a fast-paced, deeply detailed story that skillfully weaves different timelines and narrative approaches into one cohesive, compelling whole. Fans of horror and vampire fiction should not miss this one!