MADreads

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

How to budget for lamb and strychnine

Cover of Etiquette & Espionage
A review of Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

It's been a while since I've read such a delightful novel. And not only is this one great and good, I'm thrilled that there are several more books in this young adult series that I can read next. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger is set in the same world as her adult Parasol Protectorate series (a combination steam punk/romance/paranormal series that is also super-fun). This YA entry takes place a number of years earlier and introduces Sophronia Angelina Temminnick.

Posted by Jane J on Aug 21, 2019

Vets with a little something extra

Cover of Hex Vet: Witches in Traini
A review of Hex Vet: Witches in Training by Samantha Davies and Mike Fiorentino

What could be cuter than young witches training to be vets? Magical pets, that's what!

Nan and Clarion are apprenticed to veterinarian witches at Willows Whisper Veterinary Practice and things get a little wild when one of the supernatural creatures unexpectedly hypnotizes all animals within its gaze. It's up to the two apprentices to restore order to the clinic.

Posted by Molly W on Aug 16, 2019

O Juno! Or, the tribulations of Rome’s hardest working private informer

Cover of Ides of April
A review of Ides of April by Lindsey Davis

Ancient Rome could be a tough place for a woman, but it takes a lot to faze Flavia Albia, Rome’s only female private informer. But in The Ides of April, her first case might be her last. Hired by one of the neighborhood’s more detestable characters, Flavia is tasked with defending the woman from charges stemming from a fatal accident with a runaway cart that killed a toddler. Flavia doesn’t relish working for her client, but the daughter of famed informer Marcus Didius Falco doesn’t back away from a challenge—especially when the coffers are running low. But when Flavia’s awful clie

Posted by Katie H on Aug 12, 2019

Moving on

Cover of Yard Sale
A review of Yard Sale by Eve Bunting

Sometimes a yard sale can mean discovering marvelous treasures, fun times with parents or loved ones, or simply a summer day activity. But for Callie, the young protagonist in Yard Sale by Eve Bunting, it means that she has to give away all of her beloved things and move to a small apartment. Callie watches as a lady buys her bed “with crayon marks on it” and sees a man loading up her favorite red bike onto his truck. In Callie, we see (and feel) the heartache of leaving behind the much-loved and the familiar.

Posted by Tracy on Aug 9, 2019

I recommend Common in all things

Cover of Let Love Have the Last Wor
A review of Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir by Common (Musician) with Mensah Demary

Because he is awesome, that is why. 

Common is the coolest.

He is what's referred to in the hip hop world as a conscious artist. He embraces themes of love and struggle and sharing his own search for knowledge. Right on! He chooses projects that do more than make him famous, but his fame provides him with a platform to do more. He's also the first rapper to win an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar.

Posted by Molly W on Aug 8, 2019

Oh the places I'd like to go

Cover of A Madness of Sunshine
A review of A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

I'm a big fan of mysteries. I'm also a big fan of the author Nalini Singh. But up until now the twain did not meet in the same book. Singh, who has written contemporary, paranormal and suspenseful romances (and all extremely well), is venturing into the mystery genre (and returning to her roots in New Zealand) with her new novel A Madness of Sunshine.

Posted by Jane J on Aug 7, 2019

Summer sleuthing

Cover of New Mysteries
New Mysteries

What are you reading this summer? For the past couple of years I've been sharing a list of new mysteries that I am looking forward to - and here is the latest batch. I've already started checking off some on my summer mysteries list. I've met some new and some old familiar characters and am looking forward to meeting and catching up with some more. To get your started, if you like historical mysteries then check the The Darwin Affair  by Tim Mason. I enjoyed It.

Posted by Kathy K on Aug 5, 2019

Korean Heroine explores the Universe

Cover of Dragon Pearl
A review of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Dragon Pearl by Korean-American author, Yoon Ha Lee stars a plucky 13-year old fox spirit named Min.  She usually appears as a human girl, but she can transform herself into pretty much anything and has the ability to throw Charm at others to nudge them and their moods in the direction she's hoping for.  She also happens to be a master mechanic willing to go to the ends of the universe to find out what happened to her beloved older brother who disappeared during his Space Forces training tour.

Posted by Carissa on Aug 1, 2019

My best book of the year

Cover of Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murd
A review of Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

I can't imagine any book topping this one for me in 2019. The snappy and shocking title is one of the reasons I love it so much. It's funny, smart, and helpful in a cuddly way, despite the whopper of a title. The authors Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are the true crime comedy podcast stars of My Favorite Murder and their podcast provides background for the book. True crime is what brought Karen and Georgia together and how and why they have a fabulous book deal.

Posted by Molly W on Jul 31, 2019

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