This is a difficult book to grade. I finished it because I wanted to see what happened. At the same time, I was easily distracted while reading because I got bored being told everything. I was curious about the rules of the magic and the roles of difference characters, but I was also really uneasy and at times repulsed by the portrayal of those characters. Some existed without connection to context or larger meaning, even … Continue reading Deadly Sweet by Lola Dodge →
It’s the first post of my Soggy Bottoms experience, and I thank you all for reading this in the early stages before I spiral into the depths of baking madness. Once this is all over, I’m interested in taking a look at how quickly or slowly my enjoyment for this project plummeted with each new post. I’m kidding. If the rest of the bakes go as smoothly as this one, this’ll be a breeze! But … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: A Study in Scarlet Scones →
At the end of the summer, of my best friends went to Colonial Williamsburg for some teacher something something retreat something thing. That’s not important. What is important is that she picked up the cookbook of recipes from the Raleigh Tavern Bakery, and as I flipped through it, I happened on a recipe for Sally Lunns. Now wait a second, says I. Isn’t that the name of those Bath Buns that are, like, super well … Continue reading RedHeadedGirl’s Historical Kitchen: Sally Lunns →
Like many, I have a deep love for The Great British Bake Off (or as it’s known in the States, The Great British Baking Show). There’s something so soothing about watching a group of Brits be incredibly supportive of one another during a baking competition. I often cross-stitch to it or just simply lie in bed at night with it playing on my computer. Currently, there are seven completed series (or if, again, you’re in … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: A Bookish Journey Through GBBO’s Technical Bakes →
There’s something so comforting and universal about food, right? Between the Covers & Cocktails column and Redheadedgirl’s Historical Kitchen, it’s clear that we love talking about edible and drinkable treats with the Bitchery. I also love seeing how each of us at SBTB HQ make use of our cookbooks. For example, Sarah loves the ease of digital cookbooks for their searchability, while I’m more of a staunch purist. I want to spread them out on … Continue reading Cooking with Bitches: Our Cookbook Recommendations →
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is $2.99! If you haven’t noticed, we’re doing a big giveaway for the series and have an excerpt from the new novella. This is a YA fantasy novel with romance elements and is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. Readers love the world Ahdieh built, but do mention there seems to be a love triangle in the first book that doesn’t quite work well. It has a 4-star rating on Goodreads.
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RECOMMENDED: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is $1.99! This author became an auto-buy for me after I read this book as a part of a GoodReads reading challenge. I would liken this book to women’s fiction with a magical realism slant. It’s heartwarming and beautiful and has a 4-star rating on GR. The biggest complaint seems to be the book is a little predictable, but we all need an easy read now and again. It’s the first book in the Waverley Family series.
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