Sometimes, after reading two massive fantasy books, you need a world that is not built from scratch but more grounded in reality- like a romance novel! I read Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. There are many, many romance books and movies in the world, and it is challenging to create a novel "meet-cute." This one was quite creative. Our main characters, Tiffy, a worker bee at a craft book publishing house, and Leon, a nighttime hospice nurse, share a flat with only one bed. Tiffy sleeps in it at night, and Leon sleeps in it during the day. On weekends, Leon stays with his girlfriends. Perfect! What could go wrong?
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O'Leary created well-crafted backstories for both main characters, with room for change and discovery. With deftly juggled storylines and characters, I found the book quite diverting.
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Iron Flame, by Rebecca Yarros, is the second book in the series The Empyrean series. The many problems introduced in the first book continue into the second but in a good way. There are still mysteries to be resolved. Violet Sorrengail is still a feisty, intelligent dragon rider in training. Her understanding of her extraordinary power, her connection to her dragons Tairn and Andrrna, and to complex bad-boy Xanden. The second book of a series is difficult. The characters have traits and trajectories that must remain "true" to the first book but still surprise and delight the readers. Iron Flame mostly succeeds. The ending sets up the third book of the series, which is due out early next year. According to my research, Yarros plans to have five books in the series.
People have strong feelings about the series. There are many five-star and some one-star reviews. I'm a three-star. I like the series, but it feels like a contrived YA book with adult scenes created to sell. At its center, it lacks passion. Violet and Xanden know they love each other because of their intense attraction. Yarros tries to balance it with "and you're smart," but I'm not buying it; however, it's entertaining.
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James by Percival Everett is a brilliant book. Everett retells the story of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who travels the Mississippi River with Huck. Several blurbs mention that it is humorous. It epitomizes irony, but harsh realities give the book gravitas. Even though it is based on Huckleberry Finn, it stands on its own and could be read without knowing the plot of Huckleberry Finn, but it would be helpful to read over a summary. It is fast-paced without sacrificing thought-provoking.
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