The Dead Take The A Train

Cassandra Khaw

Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jim's Review:
Really enjoyed the world building, was immediately immersed into magic and monsters and mayhem. The book moves at a great pace, keeping me reading late into the night. The only complaint I have, which is small, is that it does tend to get graphic in the fight scenes. However, that’s a small nuisance to an otherwise great read.

Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!

David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker

Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Charlie’s Review:
This oral history not only provides anecdotes about the making of the comedy classic Airplane!, it also relays the entire history of its writer/directors, the Team ZAZ of Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker, from their creation of the Kentucky Fried Theater while in college through their post-Airplane projects. The stories provided by ZAZ, as well as the performers in Airplane!, are supplemented with appreciative quotes from celebrity fans and many photographs. A really fun and fast read.

Sword Catcher

Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: October 10, 2023
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Logan's Review:
I read Sword Catcher expecting a fun fantasy read, and that was what I got. It had some interesting characters, and I enjoyed the world that was built during the story of the book. It was not particularly memorable, however. None of the characters really stuck out to me as unique or interesting. The premise of the book being about the "Sword Catcher", or body double of a prince, was interesting, and it was fun to see what the author did with the premise. None of the characters, however, seemed like they had much growth or a particularly compelling character arc. This is, however, the start of a new series. It is quite possible that the author just struggled to set up everything for future books while also creating an interesting standalone first novel. On the whole, while far from the best start to a fantasy series I have ever read, it was also far from the worst. I look forward to future books in the series, and if you are looking for a fun fantasy read this is far from the worst choice you could make.

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

Amanda Flower

Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Joyce's Review:
This is the second book in her Emily Dickinson series (first is: Because I could not stop for death). It is a mystery set in the Dickinson household featuring not only the family but the household servants which gives it varying views, impressions, and interactions. The characters are well written; they interact with each other in multiple ways reflecting their position in the household hierarchy. The poem is not just a title; it is reflected in the story. I can’t help wondering what poem she will choose next. And yes, I was moved to reread the poems.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands

Heather Fawcett

Publication Date: January 16, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
I loved the first book in this series so I excitedly picked up this one. Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much as the first one though I did like quite a bit about it. I'm hoping that the third book will be a bit more exciting and introduce additional unique and interesting characters.

Make Your Own Rules

Andrew Huang

Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cary's Review:
As an introvert who wants to eventually sell her paintings and writing online, this intro piqued my interest: “How does a musician with acute hearing loss, a refusal to perform live, and no industry connections carve a path to millions of followers and lucrative royalty checks?” Andrew’s story and advice are practical and inspiring. Keep those dreams alive!

The Tainted Cup

Robert Jackson Bennett

Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Reviews:
Unlike Robert Jackson Bennett's other books, The Tainted Cup is a mystery and is both well written and an entertaining read. I didn't like the characters in this book as much as I wanted to which was a bit disappointing, but it was well done in other aspects and there are plenty of things I'd love to find out about this world in future books.

The Book of Doors

Gareth Brown

Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mary's Review:
I've never been a reader of fantasy novels but this book was quite enjoyable! It has interesting characters and is a mix of fantasy, fiction, and magic. I thought it was a good place to start. It centers on the magic of books, both good and bad, and where they can transport us to. A fun and easy read.