Janine_S

An exploration of Renoir’s society portraits of Alice (pink dress) and Elizabeth (blue dress) Cahen d’Anvers, the youngest daughters of one of France’s wealthiest bankers (the year before Renoir had painted their elder sister, Irene) providing a history of the portraits - personal, family, and historical context - that emerges in a captivating book.

The three Cahen d’Anvers sisters lived in that splendid Parisian Belle Époque period - glam, glitter, balls, yachts, architecture and, art. This is splendidly brought to life by the author, especially with the addition of references to Marcel Proust’s book which capture this period so well. Then in 1894 the infamous Dreyfus case divided France into Dreyfusards and anti-Dreyfusards and moved Hews to the lowest on the social ladders. Many concerted to Catholicism as did the Cahen d’Anvers sisters. The sisters were decorated for their nursing efforts in WWI but by then antisemitism was a creeping evil. In spite of this and more because of their love of Paris that the the sisters stayed during WWII. The sad fate of Elizabeth, betrayed by a countryman, she died in Auschwitz. As to the paintings by luck they survived and decorate museums in Switzerland and Brazil.

This is such an interesting history as it sweeps to the heights and then sinks to depth of history but the resilience of people lies in the way to total defeat. Loved that. I found the structure though a bit unwieldy and confusing when reading . That’s my only criticism of the book. But the book’s spotlight on the evils of antisemitism is the real winner in this remarkable book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

One of my favorite Michigan vacations is Mackinac Island - my children have treated me to these visits and I come away more enchanted each time. While I’ve never stayed at the Grand Hotel (I have paid admission to sit on their magnificent veranda and enjoy the view), Make Nice was such a sweet and rare find (thank you NetGalley and Knopf for granting me access to this ARC) to recapture that wonderful island.

The Pickford siblings are on a weekend vacation at the Grand Hotel on nostalgic Mackinac Island to “make nice” to one another. Their mother had just died and their father had brought them together. Pete, an expert on mollusks, is looking forward to seeing if a rare mollusk may be found on the shores of either Lake Michigan or Lake Huron. Viv is trying to pretend the shocking news her husband is gay is not affecting her for the sake of her daughter. Corey, the charmer and vagabond, has snared five lbs of coke that he plans to sell to the first dumb rich guy he finds. But “making nice” goes out the window when unforeseen events take over upsetting the apple cart - Pete finds himself attracted to the mother of a local boy making up for some crushing professional news; Viv meets her former boyfriend and feelings emerge; Corey finds the rich are more interested in golf and tennis. But why were they brought to Mackinac by their father - of course: secrets.

I really enjoyed the book. It’s funny but filled with realistic family drama. I enjoyed the descriptions of Mackinac - though I’d have enjoyed more about Grand Hotel decor. This is a character driven novel and I enjoyed them, especially Pete. What emerges from this delightful read is that no matter how crazy your family is, they are there for you.

Great read especially for lovers of family vacation scenarios. And a great summer beach read - visit Mackinac and spend the day reading it.

Another Jo Piazza hit! Historical fiction meets art mystery in a dual timeline story.

Two women separated by one hundred years come together to tell a tale of stolen art and artistic legacy. In 1990, Emma is in Paris studying art on a scholarship when that ends presumptively leaving Emma having to find ways to pay for school and room/board. She becomes a housekeeper for Stella Swanson whose husband, Maxwell, ran a $10 billion dollars art empire. Stella comes to trust Emma and plots revenge on her stepson. In 1891 a woman named Claire befriends Jo Van Gogh, the wife of Theo. Theo is deceased and Jo has all of Vincent’s paintings which she can’t sell but which she remained dedicated throughout her life promoting. How these two interesting and fascinating stories come together is so artfully done.

The choice of topics - art and Vincent Van Gogh - was exceptional. Learning about Jo Van Gogh and how she brought him to prominence made such good a good story - the woman behind the man as Piazza points out in her notes at the end. I also loved Emma’s story, her friendship with Stella and her roommates. The ending was so good.

This is a book for historical fiction lovers whether they like mysteries included or not. It’s a super read. Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for grating me access to this ARC.

An epic story of Louisiana told from the perspective of a French Acadian clan who have eked out a living in Pelerin Parish where hurricanes, oil spills, the encroaching Gulf of Mexico and other disasters make life challenging. While a character driven story, the environment is the main character giving meaning and purpose to this hardy group of people.

The novel centers around Boy Boussard, a squatter on land managed by Jacot Terrebonne, his uncle, but owned by Rosalie Terrebonne. Boy makes do by hunting alligators. When Rosalie is dying of cancer, she leaves the land to Boy upsetting Jacot who believes it should be his. The other characters who bring complications to the clan include Boy’s daughter, Lee, and his sullen nephew, Jamie and Father Fabian Dakolo from Nigeria who knows all about oil spills. When Hurricane Nestor arrives the world changes in violence and resentment.

This is a grim story - I’m not sure how these people can could endure a life in this place except for their family being grounded there and their identity etched on the land. I think that was beautifully portrayed in the book. But I found it very hard at times to know where the story was going as the book goes from character to character and then back in time and then to a character - I have no problem reading nonlinear stories but I often felt i was in a short story collection. It got confusing. But the writing is very nice. And the story itself in the whole was a good read.

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for granting me access to this ARC.

Propulsive dual timeline thriller exposing the violence perpetrated on women and how crime against women is perceived.

On the day Margot Cooper learns her “loving” husband, Jack, a famous actor, has cheated on her, she leaves with her teenage daughter, Skye, and drives to her family home in Pittsburgh to be with her sister, Julia. Julia and Margot decide to clean up the home’s attic where they discover newspapers going back to 1977 dealing with a female vigilante, Lady X. Was their mother, Ginger, Lady X? As the sisters investigate, Margot’s husband, Jack, is harassing her to make a public statement and basically save his career. What Margot learns from the Lady X story is that woman can survive the slings and arrows of misogyny and abuse.

The book is a dual timeline alternating between 2024 and 1977. Ginger, Margot and Julia’s mother tells her story in 1977 while Margot does on 2024. Both women share a story about abuse at the hands of makes but I thought Lady X’s story was the better one. I liked that the author was trying to fit the two stories together but I wonder if that was necessary. I think too Margot missed the boat in understanding what Lady X was all about. Though I do applauded her At the end of the book.

This is an intriguing feminist book. It’s got enough suspense to keep you reading. And it’d make a great beach read.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting me access to this ARC.

An examination of a global financial crisis and how it connects the inequality of the Gilded Age to the end of Reconstruction to the decline of the Ottoman Empire and to the rise of global antisemitism.

The crash of 1873 came out of boom years produced by events that included the discovery of gold in California in 1848, the rapid building of railroads in the 1850s-1860s, the accumulated debt from the Civil War, the reparations France had to pay Germany after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. People had more money to invest in risky things like projects in Egypt and Turkey for example. Fake projects and shady promoters appeared and as money went out and people used margins to gain wealth the banking bubbles eventually burst. At the same time instead of sticking with silver as the money standard, countries moved to gold which contributed to destabilization. When Grant vetoed a stimulus bill along with a series of scandals in his cabinet the way was paved for the shady election of Rutherford B. Hayes that resulted in the premature end of Reconstruction.

The book’s main focus though are the Rothschilds, the wealthy European Jewish banker family, who financed much of Europe’s growth and expansion during its Gilded Age. They did much to stabilize economies. Yet these efforts lead to the conspiracy theories of the day that it was the Jewish bankers who had shafted the counties of Austria and Germany. The term antisemitism arises in 1880. Such were the Rothschilds so reviled that in 1890 when a loan from them would have helped America, William Jennings Bryan had a clerk read from The Merchant of Venice.

While our current government crooks wax eloquently about returning to the Gilded Age (which had its fair share of corrupt politicians and millionaires), this book dispels its mystique. Money is a corrupter and greed is its willing ally. The look into the lead up of 1873 has some eerie correlations to today.

I gave this book five stars because it was well researched and written. It also presented information that shows how economies are global and provided interesting historical information many of us are not aware of. As with all history, and most importantly, it must strive to tell the truth and not what we want to hear because it fits our way of thinking - this book meets that important test.

Dual timeline novel exploring a mother-daughter relationship, breaking a family curse and the Chinese Cinderella story (which intrigued me the most - thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for granting me access to this ARC).

The story is told from two perspectives: mother, Ha Yut Ying in 1940s escaping the Japanese and working as a servant in Hong Kong; daughter, Marigold, in 1980s America trying to save her mother from a strange affliction. The Cinderella story (which is bit different from Disney’s) is woven into the story with magical realism playing a big part. In Chinese folklore, a magical fish skeleton grants wishes that are then made into curses that are passed down through the family. In this case Ha has a special gift but must retain a gold bracelet to keep it regulated which she loses changing forever her course in life. Years later mother and daughter are hurrying back to Hong Kong to find a way to literally stop Ha what is happening to her.

This is a wonderfully written story. It’s not always a cheery one as Ha must endure the effects of war snd and a family that treats her like a servant (the Disney Cinderella version appeareth). Ha’s story develops a character who has been ground down by the savagery of her life such that when we first meet her she’s not very likable. But when Ha’s story is linked to her daughter’s the truth of what happened in the past emerges and Ha’s story is complete and understandable m. In doing this Lim blends an historically grounded story with folklore and magical realism - most beautifully - to tell a dark but satisfying story.

If you like culturally based storytelling as in A Song to Drown Rivers or Yangsze Choo’s books, you might find this book right up your alley. Highly satisfying.

I heard Ariel Lawhon speak recently at Calvin University’s Faith and Writing semi-annual event this past April where she stated she didn’t write historical fiction, she wrote mysteries. That is, her writing is about bringing to life the mysteries of the past which she has done splendidly in her most recent novel about a resilient woman defending Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I.

First, I have to say I wasn’t too excited about the topic of this book. Several previous novels have attempted to bring Grace O’ Malley to life and I’ve been sorrily disappointed in them. Second, I’ve never been a lover of pirate fiction. And probably my biggest objection was the period of British history Grace fell into. So while excited to get this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday), I approached the read with great trepidation only to once again realize that when it comes to Ariel Lawhon, storytelling is at its best and her reason for choosing Grace (don’t forget to read the Author’s Note at the end) made it easier to snuggle down to great read.

Grace O’Malley literally cannot be found in English records of the period she lived in. Since history is usually written by the victors of whom in most cases are men, Lawhon has done a marvelous job of giving life to a woman who defied men and history. Taking legends and what is known about her lineage, we are treated to a story told in three parts: Grace as the “maiden” - from a young girl to her marriage; Grace as the “mother” - in her thirties and forties leading her clan; and Grace the “matriarch” fighting against English tyranny and defending her clan. The book alternates between these three periods of Grace’s life which helps develops her character (this is a character-driven book) and center the historical elements of the story. I think this structure was clever and the best way to tell Grace’s story because a linear novel would be boring.

Lawhon also has done a marvelous job of describing the Irish countryside and the sea. I felt at many points I was literally there in a scene (and I’m not a very visual reader). The book is also action packed as Grace works to protect her clan from rivals and the nefarious Sir Richard Bingham, her arch enemy - this was a guy you just love to hate. Her fiercely loyal clan is brilliantly epitomized in the character of Gully and a few others (all fictional but Grace in legend was known for the loyalty of her clan). I probably enjoyed the Mother and Matriarch sections the best but that was because the hated Bingham would appear.

I’m not sure I like pirate stories much better after finish reading this book, but I do know that the mystery of Grace O’Malley was solved in this finely written novel. I can understand after reading this book why Grace’s legend survives as she is so fierce, so defiant and so willing to buck the norms for woman - how can you not like her.

Highly recommend.

A hauntingly lyrical fictional biography focusing on one year in the life of the Victorian painter, Richard Dadd.

First, before I started the book I wanted to know a bit about its subject since I had never heard of him. I learned that in his early twenties he showed such promise he was invited to exhibit at the Royal Academy. Then in 1842 through an invitation from Sir Thomas Phillips, a Welsh lawyer, he joined a group doing the Grand Tour of Europe and the Middle East to document its journey. While in Egypt he suffered heatstroke or a mental break down and became a devotee of the god Osiris and upon his return he murdered his father believing he was an imposter - sad tale for sure.

Higgie writes in short pithy sentences, sometimes even using one word or at others in more traditional writing style. I think this contributes greatly to showing how unhinged Dadd’s mind is becoming. It’s around Venice that we start to see a change. The story moves chronologically and the mind grows “so full of terrible thoughts that at times I have truly doubted my own reason. I have begun to believe that paintings are not imaginary things, while the works I move through is constructed entirely from shadows.” Then he learns of Osiris from a book Sir Thomas gave him and Dadd seems in his mind to be better having encountered this god. They journey back home. It’s 1843 and London has become constricting to Dadd, believing he must fight the devil because he’s grown to believe most people in his life are either the devil or imposters. The book ends in 1885 at Broadmoor Hospital with Dadd, now incarcerated as a “criminal lunatic” wondering how he got there.

While strange in a way, the book brilliantly creates the inner workings of a mind in turmoil and descent. The prose-poetry writing I think helps this and I mentioned earlier also contributes well to describing a mind breaking up. Dadd’s comments on his art which he describes in fabulous way is another way Higge captures the mind’s fragility.

For all of the above that I gave this book five stars. I was so interested in the story from the beginning. I was intrigued by the writing style and felt the anguish of a mind disintegrating as I read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Verso Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

Small town life comes alive in this sweet but funny tale of relocation and misadventure as urbanites take on the countryside.

Miles Krzelewski-Petrosian has been writing his PhD dissertation for fourteen years when his brilliant wife, Kate, is offered a one-year professorship at a prestigious Vermont college. Packing up their two children, Wesley and Olive (and dog, Giuseppe), they move cross country to the quaint village of Greensbury where life is more on the plane of Meryton than San Francisco. Here Miles meets oddball characters, listens to the podcast, The Miscellaneous Minute, where callers divert the hosts from the intended topic, and joins the secret Jeremiah Wykles Society named for a 19th C reverend who’s believed to have discovered a magical underground kingdom in a local cave and who’s misfit members armed with historical research carry on trying to find it.

This is a bit of a diversion from Mason’s previous books but like those it is brilliantly written. The tongue-in-check humor and the oddball characters are the best parts of the book which can at times ramble. I think The Miscellaneous Minute is the perfect foil in this satire of modern American life - mundane and frivolous topics are the main concerns for Greenbury residents while university types immerse themselves in esoteric minutiae. Mason hits the contrasts that exist today in our society but in such a clever way.

As a character driven novel, Miles is the best! He’s such a nerd, wants to be a success but like many of us take on daily responsibilities like parenthood and the like to focus on those - maybe due to procrastination or just laziness - because that’s where the priorities lie. The mix of magical realism in the book is a lot like icing on the cake.

Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC.

Creepy horror thriller positing the meaning of life - not necessarily human life though.

Stutley Tillinghast leads a solitary life seemingly as a curate of a small church in Rhode Island. His human contact over the years has been little, sporadic and deadly. He prefers not to name what he is but the reader knows. He keeps a diary of his victims and longs for his life to end. One day a young woman, Sarah, enters his life, very sick with symptoms Tillinghast had when he was alive. Is there some kind of relationship? This causes Tillinghast to add to his diary with more details of his origin and hopes. As he works to save Sarah, Tillinghast is faced with a life altering dilemma.

This is very much a character driven novel and a possibly a new take on the vampire: less formidable and more reflective. The book explores Tillinghast’s desire for freedom from his curse but also for meaning to his existence if this life of his goes on. His tenderness to Sarah might seem out of character but as his lonely existence is examined prior to her arrival, you sense he’s really not a villain - just lonely.

I liked Tillinghast as a character. As he’d write a name and description in his diary you’d almost sense how tired he was. The narration too adds a melancholy flavor to the storytelling. And the story written almost like a memoir was clever.

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for allowing me access to this ARC.

A moving story of a multigenerational Black family as its land legacy is examined and recounted.

Aubrey Lamb is really down in her luck when she becomes aware of her inheritance in a large Tennessee farm, and former plantation where her ancestors had been enslaved. It’s up for sale and she and her three cousins must discuss the offer – from the family’s former enslavers! What unfolds is a delightful story of a Black family’s endurance, resilience and good luck.

The story is also populated by ghosts – the best kind: Lamb family ancestors who add sparkle and humor to the storytelling of a Black family who endured racism and still achieved a good life. These ghosts all had hoped to inherit the land but died before they could. The story is told by an unnamed narrator (you learn who it is later in the book) who intersperses Aubrey’s story with that of the Lamb family. The narrator tell the story with wit and verve. And the cast of characters while large add such delightful nuances to the story. Loved Zena!

This is a wonderful book. It’s for lovers of great storytelling – which should be just about everyone.

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me access to this ARC.

Time travel and magical realism join forces in the funny, cute romance inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

First, I love Freya Sampson novels. They are quirky, funny and so cozy readable! So I was so excited to get this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOK Landmark) and I was not disappointed. This book delivers on humor, theme - the life in front of you may be okay - and great storytelling.

Zoe Knight isn’t happy with her fate: she’s been trying to publish her romance novel only to see her ex Crispin Carter get a “celebrated launch for a ‘dick lit’ book she helped him write.” Annoyed she picks a fight with Nick Baskerville, owner of Baskerville Books, over his not selling romances. Spying Pride and Prejudice on a top shelf, she “liberates” it and runs away. Next thing you know Fitzwilliam Darcy’s in 21st C London and Zoe finds this isn’t necessarily working; she needs to send him back, but how?

The book has some funny moments as Darcy tries to navigate the 21st C world. I liked the budding romance with Nick who turns out to be a good guy. I also liked the love of literature theme in the book too - it’s my “cup of tea” (though I’m a coffee drinker) to find books that emphasize that.

This is a perfect summer read - or anytime read. It’s cozy, feel good and perfect to pick up after you’ve read that heavy literary fiction or nonfiction book and are looking for a break.

This is a slow-burn psychological thriller that's intense, suspenseful, full of twists and rabbit holes, and at times a "can't put it down" read. It explores themes of betrayal and loyalty, both in nature and in relationships, and what you would do to survive.

Emma Sharp is a complicated but tormented woman, raised by a doomsday believer, her father, Gregory Sharp, and hardened in the startup world to accept preparation and order. She's a survivor underneath her quiet, meek, submissive appearance but she harbors such self-loathing that she makes a terrible choice and marries a diabolic controlling misogynist, Logan Grant. Her psychological distress (revealed later in the book) stays dormient until after five years of marriage when Emma seems to wake up especially when she forms a romantic liaison with Taylor Cognetti, Logan's ex and former business partner. Emma envisions freedom and plans with Taylor to take a hike on the final miles of the Appalachian Trail, the punishing Hundred Mile Wilderness where scores will be settled.

The book is divided into seven parts each based on Emma's father's survival rules. Each rule is then expanded on with Emma's story or psychological torment. A kind of omniscient narrator comments alongside Emma as interacts with other characters giving more depth to Emma. As the hike proceeds events occur which seem to go one way but then verve off into another twist. We see that Emma is more prepared for survival than her tormentors. It really gets intense as the book nears it conclusion.

My criticism of the book is the lengths to which we had to endure Emma at times. Frankly she was so needly psychologically at times I wasn't sure how I felt about her, though as Logan continues to be a character in the book I felt a lot of empathy. With that said, I think the intensity of the journey into Emma's psyche and her desire to truly be free of her fears is probably an overall plus for this book.

I enjoyed the read.

Psychological thriller set in the 1960s dealing with the effects of early trauma on a life and the ends to which someone will go to achieve success.

Judith Stanley is a simple housewife which a passion for photography. She takes pictures only for herself but one day she shares some with her photography teacher, Paul Sorensen, who appreciates Judith’s creative abilities. But as Judith continues her work, a male figure keeps appearing on the fringes of her pictures. Is this the man who caused her trauma years ago? Paul’s discovery of Judith’s pictures leads him to visioning himself as an art entrepreneur but he soon finds this creates hate over his hyping of Judith’s work. This brings out Paul’s dark side as the book comes to its stunning conclusion.

The book is cleverly split into two parts. The first part is narrated by Judith giving insight into her earlier trauma and how this impacts her work and life. Part two is narrated by Paul as he exploits Judith’s work and becomes unhinged by the criticism he’s being given over this. In separating the two protagonists, I think by fashioning the book this way we experience different people experiencing “parallel” paranoias: she’s meek but innovative; he’s talented but egotistical. It’s the outcome in the telling that blends the two together.

My thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for allowing me access to this ARC.

I enjoyed Winter Count, the author’s first book (it was a BOTM selection for me) so when this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Ecco) appeared I was instantly excited. And the excitement proved true!

Virgil Wounded Horse returns. As an enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, he’s called back to his vigilante roots (if you haven’t do read Winter Counts). He’s been desperately trying to avoid this but when a respected elder is murdered, he’s asked to return to the job. A gang, Pine Ridge 750, from another reservation, wants to expand its territory. Then there’s the shady politician, Mitch Gagnon. With elections looming and past allegations against a local Native school re-emerging, “stakes are high.”

I loved the atmosphere in this book. And I enjoyed the setting and culture revealed in the story. As the author writes in his note, his theme concerns the injustice with the criminal justice system – an important and prescient topic. We need more books about indigenous people so I am thrilled this one adds to that genre. And Virgil is a priceless character.

Don’t miss this one.

A stirring story of a tragic death observed by a psychoanalyst whose testimony sends a mother to prison is then re-examined by a student of the psychiatrist - a clever set up for an intriguing novel.

It’s 1992. Annakali “ Anna” Chatterjee and her eight-year-old daughter, Rahbinda, are waiting in a New York subway for a train when they fall onto the tracks. Anna survives but her daughter does not. Jean-Louis Kurtz, a French psychoanalyst, observes the tragedy and it’s his testimony that results in Anna’s 15 year sentence for manslaughter. Upon her release Anna moves to Nebraska, changes her name, cuts ties with her family and moves in with a group of Christian missionaries. Meanwhile, Anna’s other children, Neal and Nina are left to deal with the trauma of the death of their sibling and the loss of their mother.

The book is narrated by B. X. Roy, a student of Kurtz who has diverged from Kurtz’s theories (Lancanian psychoanalysis - I saw Kurtz as a stand-in for the actual developer of this theoretical system, Jacques Lacan which posits much of its thinking on language and thought). Using Kurtz’’s notes, Roy believes Kurtz’s interpretation of events is misguided - lots of snark goes on here.

The book also spans decades, history and geography. It goes from post-partition India to Bangladesh to Scotland and finally to Nebraska. I think this was necessary in order to fit the analysis of Lancanianism in the book as to the effects of post-colonialism. The Chatterjees come from same Bengali town as Roy too. It shows the pitfalls of immigration experience especially as it relates to assimilation.

This is a complex novel. But that it is filled with spirit, humor and profound examination of the human experience makes it a splendid. I ordered the book to experience it again.

My thanks to NetGalley and Astra House for giving me access to this amazing ARC.

Horror infused, surreal novella exploring loss of innocence and dark family secrets.

It’s summer 1977 in Guadalajara, Mexico. A traveling fair comes to the area and a young girl seeks her fortune from a snake woman. The answer is cryptic and the girl goes home with her family. Suddenly the children start seeing a ghost who wants to tell its story every night, a serpent girl sobbing in a carnival box and a neighbor who dangles his dog from a tree. The adults appear to be unaware as the hot sultry summer moves on.

Told in various voices the book weaves myth, folklore and secrets. Each voice tells part of the story - a fragment of truth. The stories eventually converge to become a boa that winds it way through the town. The stories blend reality and myth and the children are deeply affected.

This was a strange tale and read. While beautifully written it didn’t resonate with me. Readers who like surrealistic horror tales might however find it more interesting.

My thanks to NetGalley and SoHo Press for allowing me access to this ARC.

Heartfelt and gut-wrenching story of two siblings learning the meaning of life.

Set in the mid-1970, eighteen-year-old Chip Bishop has been given a cruel diagnosis: leukemia. Rather than seek treatment, Chip decides to experience life and without telling anyone he leaves, ends up at a Poconos resort, Red Maple, where he works until he knows it’s near the end and he returns home. Maggie, his sister, is determined to find out where Chip was and when she does she finds herself at Red Maple, employee there, and determined to find out about Chip.

Told over two summers in alternating chapters (Chip in 1974 and Maggie in 1975) the story has such a sharp focus on these siblings' connection and love for one another. Red Maple is such a wonderful setting - I think it’s the strength of the book. The stories about Chip that Maggie learns can be funny and tender.

I enjoyed the read. While this is a character driven novel, I’d have liked more character development, but the poignancy of the book makes the read worth it.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Scribner for granting me access to this book.

I received this book from BookBrowse for an honest and fair review. This is an intricate fantasy novel, well written and interesting. The planet Bellosio is on the brink of revolution. It's an advanced civilization but doubt has entered the picture. The planet has three different species: the Wati, the Crivien, and the Vidogs. Over time a hierarchical structure has emerged. The book opens to find Danaba, a Wati, who ascends the throne after her father's death but forces are working against her to steal her throne.

The book focuses on complex relationships and inserts characters who aren't explained until later - which made it difficult at times in reading. The planet's history is controlled by a divine being called "Cog, and the story is told within the context of the planets history. The forces of science and ancient religion clash along with the personal struggle for leadership

I found this a very difficult read. I'm not a lover of fantasy/sci-fi but I try to read from time to time to challenge myself. I was very challenged with this one. The world building overwhelmed; I got lost in the time elements. I think the writing was very good but I was more confused at the end than when I was when I started. I don't think the. Fantasy/ sci-fi genre is for me.