I’m almost hesitant to recommend The Scarlet Alchemist, not because it’s a bad book, but because it’s a fantastic book, but the sequel doesn’t come out until (it’s estimated) October. I gobbled this book up in one sitting and now I have to sit and wait pathetically to find out what happens next. The story is set in a version of historical China where alchemists have figured out the key to immortality. The wealthy eat … Continue reading The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker →
I’ve been in a reading rut lately. It’s the worst feeling in the world, and my solution has been to try novellas instead. They’re less intimidating than full-length books: it’s an hour of my time instead of four, I don’t feel like I’ve wasted time if I hate the book, I don’t experience guilt if I DNF, etc. The list goes on and on. When Jeannie Lin released an anthology set in her 19th century … Continue reading Tales from the Gunpowder Chronicles by Jeannie Lin →
The Lotus Palace is a historical romance/mystery set in Tang Dynasty China. It is the first in the short but fantastic Pingkang Li Mysteries Series. I adore the setting, the characters, and the delicate way that the issue of consent is handled given the many forms of inequality within the society in which our characters live. This is a slow-paced book, but one that allows a relationship to mature over time in a believable way … Continue reading The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin →
NB: It’s time for a squee! This is for a Chinese period drama with all sorts of gorgeous scenery and amazing costumes. The Nirvana in Fire squee comes from Castiron. Castiron spends her days wrangling book metadata and her evenings wrangling yarn and kids. Her desert island solar-powered ebook reader would include Jeannie Lin’s Pingkang Li duology, Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series, Georgette Heyer’s The Unknown Ajax, and the complete works of Lois McMaster Bujold, along with … Continue reading Guest Squee: Nirvana in Fire →
