THE WHISPER OF DRAGONS

An often absorbing, if unevenly executed, read for those who enjoy tales of dragons.

In Picard’s fantasy novel, a young woman is destined for greatness, but when the end of the world draws near, she may be forced to sacrifice what’s most dear to her to save humanity.

Kavi Kindra, who has magical powers, has grown up with knowledge she is the heir to the guardianship held by Amthorn, a dragon who protects the earth from outside threats. One day, she’ll take up the role of Guardian, who, according to her society’s mythology, watches over all of creation. Her foster mother’s mistreatment, and her own feeling of being very different from others, lead Kavi to turn to Amthorn, her oldest, dearest mentor, for advice. However, Amthorn’s motivations aren’t so clear, and the creature’s goals may force Kavi to make a very difficult choice. Her conflicts with her family and community rise to the surface with the reappearance of her childhood friend, Gideon. He’s made terrible mistakes working for the dreaded scientist Zmey and has put their community in danger. Kavi also deals with her old romantic feelings for Gideon, even though human relationships seem to be out of reach for dragon heirs like her—but they may be the only thing that can save the world. Over the course of this novel, Picard effectively presents a large and engaging cast, and she escorts the reader into what proves to be a complex world. However, the initial introduction of the various story elements feels a bit bumpy, and although the characters are pleasingly diverse, their development, and, by extension, the story’s ultimate resolution, leave something to be desired. That said, Picard does showcase a clear, cohesive theme regarding the importance of human interaction, which runs through every conversation and plot development.

An often absorbing, if unevenly executed, read for those who enjoy tales of dragons.

Pub Date: July 7, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-99-878355-0

Page Count: 442

Publisher: Self

Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2021

THE LITTLE LIAR

A captivating allegory about evil, lies, and forgiveness.

Truth and deception clash in this tale of the Holocaust.

Udo Graf is proud that the Wolf has assigned him the task of expelling all 50,000 Jews from Salonika, Greece. In that city, Nico Krispis is an 11-year-old Jewish boy whose blue eyes and blond hair deceive, but whose words do not. Those who know him know he has never told a lie in his life—“Never be the one to tell lies, Nico,” his grandfather teaches him. “God is always watching.” Udo and Nico meet, and Udo decides to exploit the child’s innocence. At the train station where Jews are being jammed into cattle cars bound for Auschwitz, Udo gives Nico a yellow star to wear and persuades him to whisper among the crowd, “I heard it from a German officer. They are sending us to Poland. We will have new homes. And jobs.” The lad doesn’t know any better, so he helps persuade reluctant Jews to board the train to hell. “You were a good little liar,” Udo later tells Nico, and delights in the prospect of breaking the boy’s spirit, which is more fun and a greater challenge than killing him outright. When Nico realizes the horrific nature of what he's done, his truth-telling days are over. He becomes an inveterate liar about everything. Narrating the story is the Angel of Truth, whom according to a parable God had cast out of heaven and onto earth, where Truth shattered into billions of pieces, each to lodge in a human heart. (Obviously, many hearts have been missed.) Truth skillfully weaves together the characters, including Nico; his brother, Sebastian; Sebastian’s wife, Fannie; and the “heartless deceiver” Udo. Events extend for decades beyond World War II, until everyone’s lives finally collide in dramatic fashion. As Truth readily acknowledges, his account is loaded with twists and turns, some fortuitous and others not. Will Nico Krispis ever seek redemption? And will he find it? Author Albom’s passion shows through on every page in this well-crafted novel.

A captivating allegory about evil, lies, and forgiveness.

Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2023

ISBN: 9780062406651

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Sept. 21, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023

THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP

A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism.

Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their stores—a gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstore—become fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love.

Bree is a friendly but standoffish bookstore owner who keeps everyone she knows at arm’s length, from guys she meets in bars to her friends. Mikki is a settled-in-her-routines divorced mother of two, happily a mom, gift-shop owner, and co-parent with her ex-husband, Perry. And Ashley is a young, very-much-in-love bakery owner specializing in muffins who devotes herself to giving back to the community through a nonprofit that helps community members develop skills and find jobs. When the women meet drooling over a boardwalk storefront that none of them can afford on her own, a plan is hatched to divide the space in three, and a friendship—and business partnership—is born. An impromptu celebration on the beach at sunset with champagne becomes a weekly touchpoint to their lives as they learn more about each other and themselves. Their friendship blossoms as they help each other, offering support, hard truths, and loving backup. Author Mallery has created a delightful story of friendship between three women that also offers a variety of love stories as they fall in love, make mistakes, and figure out how to be the best—albeit still flawed—versions of themselves. The men are similarly flawed and human. While the story comes down clearly on the side of all-encompassing love, Mallery has struck a careful balance: There is just enough sex to be spicy, just enough swearing to be naughty, and just enough heartbreak to avoid being cloying.

A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism.

Pub Date: May 31, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-778-38608-7

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Review Posted Online: March 15, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2022

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