Summer of Scandal is a romance that takes place in a made up town “located in a fictional island in the Spanish Caribbean.” It is set in 1911. The unusual setting, the Hispanic and Caribbean cultures, and the time period make for an appealing and refreshing romance with a couple of odd problems. Here’s the plot: Emilia Cruz is the secret author of a series of scandalous stories, including The True Accounts of a Former … Continue reading A Summer of Scandal by Lydia San Andres →
Tomi Adeyemi has been getting a lot of well-deserved buzz around her new book, Children of Blood and Bone. It’s the first book in a planned YA fantasy trilogy. It’s set in a fantasy version of West Africa, and all of the characters are people of color. I loved the setting and the use of fantasy and character to explore issues around racism and oppression. I was not as crazy about the graphic violence or … Continue reading Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi →
Re Jane is supposed to be a modern re-telling of Jane Eyre. It changes the plot considerably, but that’s to be expected. Unfortunately it also loses the entire point of Jane Eyre, which is that the main character is moral and has a sense of self that anchors her. While this retelling at least remembers that Jane’s self-respect is more important than romance, it has an incredibly selfish, self-centered heroine. The story is not a … Continue reading Re Jane by Patricia Park →
