General Fiction
Plot/Idea: When Kara arrives in Ballybeg, Ireland—her grandfather's ancestral village—she soon finds herself embroiled in a dispute with distant relations, over land that's rumored to be enchanted. The plot is evenly paced, with dustings of magic that add charm.
Prose: Logan uses the story's three main perspectives to add tension, and the simple, well-executed prose keeps this appealing mystery-turned-cozy-action novel afloat. The setting is skillfully rendered, evoking images of idyllic landscapes surrounded by shimmering waters.
Originality: Though good triumphing over evil is a common theme, Kara's perseverance, and the support of her trusty friends, as well as the townspeople of Ballybeg, against greedy foreign developers is skillfully wrought in this satisfying novel.
Character/Execution: Kara's journey affords her the opportunity to rediscover her passion for the magic of history and Ballybeg's extraordinary surroundings, and her character arc is both relatable and appealing. Logan's accomplished storytelling will keep readers invested from the start.
Plot/Idea: While facing his father's disintegration, middle-aged Ivan grapples with anxiety and frustration surrounding his care. After his father's sudden death, Ivan's focus shifts to his own circumstances as he embarks on a search for meaning, along with the pursuit of a new love interest. There is something of a disconnect in the plot before and after Dillon's death, as if some of the focus and momentum is lost.
Prose: Martin is a capable and introspective writer. However, the prose is wordy and convoluted in places, and Martin's style of providing intense exposition and background narration has a tendency to slow the storyline. There are, though, many bright spots in the writing that bring the characters and their relationships to life.
Originality: Although the plot becomes somewhat predictable following Dillon's death, Son of a Madman is a novel that is rich in ideas; Martin also writes movingly of the challenges of caring for an elderly parent and the implications for adult children as they face their own futures.
Character/Execution: Martin tends to over-narrate the thoughts and feelings of his main players, which has the effect of distancing readers from the characters. Nevertheless, Ivan has depth and promise and his sister Lilly is relatable in her reluctance to accept her father's circumstances. Amber, Ivan's love interest, can come across as overly sagacious rather than fully realistic.
Blurb: A middle-aged man struggles to find happiness and meaning amidst his father's abuse, mental deterioration, and demise.
The Other Shoes of Larry Martin: Book Two: On Becoming Laurie Roberts (Larry Martin Novel Series)
by Pavane RavelRating: 6.50
Plot/Idea: Laurie Roberts (nee Larry Martin) must learn to navigate his personal and professional lives as he embarks on his second chance at a new future--but his past may catch up to him as there are those that consider 'Larry Martin' a threat because of his well-publicized beliefs. Though this is the second book in the series, this reader had no problem following the story. However, the plot, though on the surface promising intrigue, drama, and even a touch of the supernatural, at times falters as it becomes bogged down in trivialities.
Prose: Ravel's prose is adequate and serves the story well, but does little to inject a note of urgency and excitement to the narrative. Additionally, the dialogue is awkward with a sometimes unappealing cadence.
Originality: The Other Shoes of Larry Martin features many elements of striking originality. This said, the second book is an expansion of the first title; readers here are fully privy to Larry's complete backstory and transformation from alt-right wing extremist to homeless man who becomes a guiding light for not only the homeless, but also a progressive beacon in a tumultuous political climate.
Character/Execution: Larry is a decidedly unique character with striking circumstances. Despite his goodness and the resounding impact he has on others, these powers are not always convincingly conveyed to the reader. The supporting characters (i.e. Sherman, Tess, Susan, and Peter) are compelling figures, but they serve as extensions of Laurie without emerging as fully developed characters in themselves.
Plot/Idea: Jaguar Dreams tells a hard-hitting story of environmental destruction and the attempts of one indigenous nation to protect their lands. By telling the story from multiple points of view, the author conveys the many interested parties who are affected or seek to benefit from land exploitation.
Prose: Despite moments of awkward phrasing, the prose is generally clear, straightforward, and capably drives the story.
Originality: Writing outside one's own cultural experiences can be fraught territory. Despite the novel's potentially problematic approach, the author has clearly studied the Kichwa people and the threats to their land; this insight provides a layer of richness to the storytelling.
Character/Execution: This is a sensitively written story that explores multiple perspectives on ongoing predation in the Amazon. Readers will likely be inspired to seek out more information about the Kichwa people.
Plot/Idea: A Shepherd to Fools unfolds in breakneck speed, making it challenging for readers to keep up with the multilayered plot—but that pace is well-matched for a war novel, and Mendelson keeps readers on their toes.
Prose: The novel is bolstered by skilled prose that immerses readers in the setting. Though descriptors are a definite strength, some main characters lack a clear voice.
Originality: A Shepherd to Fools is an accelerating war drama with characters and scenes expected of the genre.
Character/Execution: Mendelson's main characters are a perfect fit for the story's premise; even so, there is little exploration of their lives outside of battle, leaving the cast one-dimensional and a bit stereotypical.
Ambition, Arrogance & Pride: Families & Rivals in 18th Century Salem
by Sandra Wagner-WrightRating: 6.25
Plot/Idea: This is an engaging, multi-generational story of prominent families in 18th century Salem as they navigate both their own private dramas and those of an increasingly tumultuous world. Meticulously researched and told with an impressive attention to detail, this work of historical fiction is an entertaining and appealing read. The plot wavers somewhat at the end and lacks a smooth transition between generations, as newly introduced characters become the narrative's focus.
Prose: Wagner-Wright's prose is both engaging and descriptive, and her attention to detail and passion for the families' history shines through with every word. The delightful blend of skilled storytelling and historical accuracy charms with both its characters and its straightforward, yet beautifully written, prose.
Originality: Although the idea itself may not overwhelm with its originality, the narrative flow, evocative prose, and thoughtful attention to detail make it stand out as a fine example of colonial historical fiction.
Character/Execution: The characters are undeniably the story's backbone, and they are stunningly portrayed—most notably Mary, who the novel follows from young womanhood through late adulthood. Readers will grieve with her, celebrate with her, and observe with her as her life becomes more uncertain, and this is undoubtedly one of the most important reasons why this tale is such an enjoyable read.
Plot/Idea: A group of college friends comes together to investigate one of their own's past, in order to answer questions about his mental health and get to the bottom of the horrible nightmares he's experiencing. Along the way, they hook up, party, and make up and break up, 1970s style.
Prose: Furr's prose leans toward the pedantic, and the dialogue is stilted in places. Characters experience dramatic interactions with each other, and transform their relationships in the process, but this also becomes distracting to the plot at times.
Originality: Furr combines coming-of-age, trauma, and young love into a multilayered, if meandering, story of self-discovery and quest for answers.
Character/Execution: The young adult characters in this novel stick to familiar roles, making the story relatable in many ways, as they experiment in social situations—and overcompensate for their past regrets and lack of self-confidence.
Plot/Idea: Heston's stories are loosely tied together, illuminating dark themes of wrongdoing and punishment. Readers will find the writing thought-provoking and unsettling in many places.
Prose: The prose is cleverly formed and hints at humor concealed within the collection's somber themes. Some minor structural issues distract from the otherwise intriguing style.
Originality: Fault Lines is decidedly original, crafted with deeper undertones that will generate introspection and thoughtful reflection in readers.
Character/Execution: Heston draws his cast from several well-known characters throughout the collection, ascribing them with grim but often humorous traits and interactions, and he highlights a moral lesson for the main characters in each story.
Plot/Idea: Havel's 9/11-era novel follows Sherry, a hyper-sexualized blonde protagonist, and the international cast of men who enjoy her beauty, as the CIA places her in the Middle East on an espionage mission.
Prose: The prose is unapologetically edgy, and may be interpreted as offensive to some readers, particularly the derogatory discussions about women and some contemptuous attitudes toward countries other than the United States. Though the author provides a clear disclaimer that the characters and attitudes explored do not reflect Havel's own, much of the content will be hard for readers to swallow.
Originality: The Queen of Intelligence is imaginative and fearlessly outrageous, despite several challenges with objectionable conversations and prejudices.
Character/Execution: The main character, while perhaps intentionally cartoonish in nature, is thinly developed and based on fantastical thinking regarding women. Supporting characters fit into stereotypical roles that support the plot.
Plot/Idea: Manawydan is a dizzying horror story that surrounds the reemergence of the cursed, titular vessel utilized in the African slave trade. Much of the narrative includes harrowing accounts of enslaved individuals captured and brought onboard the Manawydan. An additional storyline focuses on a Frankenstein-like figure who creates an inhuman beast and unleashes it onboard the ship.
Prose: Muldrow's storytelling is often engrossing, but its reach is somewhat overambitious. Readers may become disoriented by the scope of the narrative as it vacillates between the distant past and modern day events. Lengthy descriptions of human suffering may be jarring to readers expecting more of a sea-faring fantasy.
Originality: From unearthly creatures to the barbarism of slavery, Manawydan is a highly original work that will keep readers guessing.
Character/Execution: The characters featured throughout the novel, while diverse, serve more as pawns within the story's often fantastical--frequently overwhelming--circumstances than as fully formed individuals.
