Salvation Day by Kali Wallace (2019)

This is the story of 2 people: Zahra Dove and Jaswinder (Jas) Bhattacharya. Both of their lives were changed by the tragedy that happened 10 years prior aboard the spaceship, House of Wisdom. 

Previously:

The House of Wisdom (HOW) was a science vessel where the best and brightest went to do their research. Among them were Jas's parents (and Jas, but he was only 12). A bioweapon was released onboard, killing everyone quickly (and painlessly). Jas was the only survivor, because his mother sent him away in one of her experimental ships before he could be infected.

Zahra's father, Dr. Lago, was a space archeologist who was part of the HOW's team until days before the outbreak, when he was removed from his post for hiding data from a satellite (UC33-X) sent back to Earth by one of the ships who left pre-Collapse.

The Collapse happened about 200 years prior, with humanity almost going extinct and society having to rebuild from the ground up. Humanity's now governed not by nation-states, but by the Councils. Life is quite good for its citizens (almost utopian), but its also rigidly structured (where conformity is king). For those who want to live outside this rigid structure, there's the Wastelands, with its decimated soil and scarce water. (But at least they're living free of tyranny.)

It is widely believed that, in retribution for his removal, Dr. Lago released the bioweapon. The ship's quarantine drones destroy anything that gets too close to the HOW so the culprit has never been confirmed. Anyone who might be able to turn them off died on the HOW (except for Jas). 

To escape persecution due to guilt by association, Zahra's family moved to the Wastelands of North America. There they joined the Family of Light, a group lead by a visionary genius named Adam. Everyone that is part of the family takes the Light last name. Adam hates the Councils for their tyranny and has decided that the only way to truly be free is to commandeer the HOW and escape to explore the stars (it's advanced engine will make it impossible to catch). 

The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe (2022)

I thought I'd like this collection of tales set in a future where memories are regulated. Those that are contrary to the government's agenda are erased. I mean, afrofuturistic novellas, what's not to like? Unfortunately, I didn't.

It seems my opinion is in the minority, but couldn't get into it. The lofty nature of the prose just left me outside the story. So I skipped ahead to the story of Raven and Akilah. The pair has just moved into a new apartment. Raven is in nursing school and works at a spa. She's also exhausted, on the edge of collapsing. Akilah's all about the cause -- helping further the rights and dignity of their people -- and seems to work from home. Maybe? All I know is that she's obnoxious. She doesn't really seem to do anything except get on her soapbox. Which often means criticizing Raven. 'Raven's supposed to be dedicated to the cause but she's too selfish.' She doesn't help Raven when she's in distress. She's mostly critical of Raven. At one point, Raven doesn't have her keys, Akilah knows it and isn't home to let her in. Her reasons (excuses) show that she didn't think about Raven at all.

The Comeback by Lily Chu (2022)

Beware the hot cousins of roommates...

I absolutely loved this story about Ari and Jihoon. She's a lawyer working towards making partner. He's run to Toronto to escape a bad breakup. Being together, at first, is awkward, but soon becomes easy. Soon it feels like home. But his secrets can't stay hidden forever. 

I love how this author writes well-rounded characters facing challenges, who work through those problems to out better, together, on the other side. Jihoon is absolutely swoon-worthy but he's not perfect (always a plus). Ari's strong, smart and capable and isn't perfect either. The challenge they face before their HEA doesn't feel forced, cliche or thrown in there because the third act needs to have one. 

Phillipa Soo did a great job giving voice to the different characters and helped make this a book that I couldn't put down or stop listening to. This is definitely one I'll listen to again. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron by Julia Quinn (2022)

A madcap romantic adventure, Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron has appeared in several Julia Quinn novels and enthralled some of her most beloved characters. Now this delicious tale of love and peril is available for everyone to enjoy in this wonderfully unconventional graphic novel.

Born into a happy family that is tragically ravaged by smallpox, Miss Priscilla Butterworth uses her wits to survive a series of outlandish trials. Cruelly separated from her beloved mother and grandmother, the young girl is sent to live with a callous aunt who forces her to work for her keep. Eventually, the clever and tenderhearted Miss Butterworth makes her escape . . . a daring journey into the unknown that unexpectedly leads her to the “mad” baron and a lifetime of love.

I wanted to like this more than I did. 

Some of it was totally disturbing - like someone getting pecked to death by pigeons, or impaled on a poker and then struck by lightning (because poker as lighting rod, of course). 

Parts were pretty predictable - like her being the girl that the baron's Gramps saved from being impaled by a boar, and that boar then gores Grandpa who then dies from his wounds. (Of course, he wouldn't have been impaled if he wasn't so over-confident in his ability to handle the situation.) Like the cousin being a Bond villain.

The only thing that saved it for me was that it's supposed to be a gothic novel from the Regency period, so these shortfall are forgivable.

3 out of 5 stars

The Naked Duke by Sally MacKenzie (2005)

A tale of love, lust and insanity… with a cherry on top. 

Sarah has arrived in England after the death of her father, come to stay with her uncle, the Earl of Westbrooke. When her coach arrives  late in the evening, she’s forced to find a room at the Green Man, rather than turning up disheveled and unexpected on the Earl’s doorstep. The innkeeper balks at providing a room, even after she explained her relation. She’s rescued by a kind stranger, Robbie, who seems strangely familiar. Sure, Robbie’s a bit foxed, but he’s a gentleman with a room down the hall and Sarah hasn’t slept days. There shouldn’t be any issues…

James is only too ready to stay the night at the Green Man when he discovers his cousin, Richard, has arrived from London. Richard might arrange yet another ‘accident’ that night in an attempt at gaining the Inheritance that was ‘stolen’ because James’s father was born first. When James retires for the night, he discovers the London doxy Robbie smuggled into his room. While he’s quite tempted by her beauty, she’s obviously exhausted, so he decides to let her sleep and ‘discuss’ things in the morning. 

The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde (2020)

 At some point in the near past in this alternate world tale, some animals anthropomorphized into bipedal beings (something that may or may not have been satire induced). Peter Knox, our narrator, works for the government's RabCoT division (Rabbit Compliance Taskforce) as a rabbit spotter, someone who helps hunt down members of the rabbit underground/resistance. He's divorced and lives with his daughter, Emma. His life has been rather routine, until Connie moves in next door. Peter knew Connie back at university (and had an unacknowledged attraction to her). Connie's family includes a husband, Major (rank, not name) and a son. As Peter and Connie renew their acquaintance, Peter keeps his job secret and how it was his mistake that caused the death of Connie's first husband, Oliver. This proves a bit tricky, since Peter's boss is a fox and Emma has started dating Connie's son. Peter has a positive ear ID on a player in the Underground; something that could lead to the collapse of its courier network. Additionally, he works with a grouchy rabbit who loves hunting his own kind. 

Unlike with Fforde's Thursday Next series, I struggled to remain engaged in the story, most likely because of the story's structure (*cough* It's moving so slowly!). At the halfway point, I was fighting DNF'ing it. As usual, the world building is spot-on and well-developed. Unfortunately, it seems like there's too much world building and not enough action. 

Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle I Mason (2021)

1995. Jenny Waters is about to start her senior year in high school. (So, close to my senior year in West County, St. Louis.) She's returning from visiting her grandparents in New York City, with a plan to persuade her parents to okay studying journalism at Columbia University. She's eager to see her best friend, Angie, and finally kissing her boyfriend, Steve.  Things don't quite work out that way. After a slight light flicker, Flight 236 lands in 2020.

All of the passengers and crew have a hard time adjusting to 2020. Not just because of the changes in technology, but also because everyone they know is 25 years older. Three out of four of Jenny's grandparents have died. Her boyfriend and her best friend ended up married. And it gets worse: best friend, Angie, wrote a memoir about her -- "Jenny and Me" -- cue the embarrassing anecdotes and references to bird sex. The memoir was a best seller, read by all her family, and the paper's mean girl is nice enough to share its existence with the entire school. Jenny's relationship with Angie is further complicated when Jenny starts liking Angie's son, Dylan, and Angie's daughter, Jo Jo just might be Oscar the Grouch. The Springs, an elderly couple, have outlived all their friends and their children are not their age. Another passenger's husband had her declared dead and is happily remarried with kids. A flight attendant left behind a fiance. The pilot, Captain Reynolds, lost pretty much everything because his sister had to fund her meth habit.