The Footman and I

Today’s post is on The Footman and I by Valerie Bowman. It is 258 pages long and is published by June Third Enterprises. It is the first in The Footmen’s Club series. The cover is green with the main characters on it in an embrace. The intended reader is someone who likes historical romance. There is mild foul language, sex, and no violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- Let the games begin...

Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong?

May the best footman win.

Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true?

Review- A fun romance with good characters but it doesn’t break any molds. Frances wants to make a difference in the world but as she is a woman with no money and no political power, her hands are tied. Lucas wants to find someone who wants to marry him, not his money but he cannot go around as himself and discover a lady’s true nature, so he comes up with a plan. They meet and they find something special between them.  The story is fine from that point, you can guess the main conflicts and of course the happy ending. But I didn’t like the sexuality in this novel. It was odd to me and very out of character for Frances who knows that any indiscretion would not only be damning for her but her sister as well whom she loves very much.  But other than that it was fine. If you like historical romances then try this one but if historicals are only an once in a well read for you then I would skip this one. 

I give this novel a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library. 

Plunder: Napoleon's Theft of Veronese's Feast

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Plunder: Napoleon's Theft of Veronese's Feast by Cynthia Saltzman. It is 317 pages including notes and it is published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. The cover is a picture of the stolen painting. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who is interested in art history and Napoleon. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- A captivating study of Napoleon’s plundering of Europe’s art for the Louvre, told through the story of a Renaissance masterpiece seized from Venice

Cynthia Saltzman’s Plunder recounts the fate of Paolo Veronese’s Wedding Feast at Cana, a vast, sublime canvas that the French, under the command of the young Napoleon Bonaparte, tore from a wall of the monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore, on an island in Venice, in 1797. Painted in 1563 during the Renaissance, the picture was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. Veronese had filled the scene with some 130 figures, lavishing color on the canvas to build the illusion that the viewers’ space opened onto a biblical banquet taking place on a terrace in sixteenth-century Venice. Once pulled from the wall, the Venetian canvas crossed the Mediterranean rolled on a cylinder; soon after, artworks commandeered from Venice and Rome were triumphantly brought into Paris. In 1801, the Veronese went on exhibition at the Louvre, the new public art museum founded during the Revolution in the former palace of the French kings.

As Saltzman tells the larger story of Napoleon’s looting of Italian art and its role in the creation of the Louvre, she reveals the contradictions of his character: his thirst for greatness—to carry forward the finest aspects of civilization—and his ruthlessness in getting whatever he sought. After Napoleon’s 1815 defeat at Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington and the Allies forced the French to return many of the Louvre’s plundered paintings and sculptures. Nevertheless, The Wedding Feast at Cana remains in Paris to this day, hanging directly across from the Mona Lisa.

Expertly researched and deftly told, Plunder chronicles one of the most spectacular art appropriation campaigns in history, one that sheds light on a seminal historical figure and the complex origins of one of the great museums of the world. 

Review- A wonderful and engaging book about art history and Napoleon’s greed for power. Art always has had power, power to change minds, power to inspire devotion or hatred, to show who has power and who doesn’t and Napoleon understood that. When he was still a general for the French Republic, he was tasked to bring back to Paris the old masters of art, and he did just that at any cost. I have not read much about Napoleon but after this book I am more interested in learning about him and his wars. Saltzman has done great research and her notes are very good, if you wish to study further. She is also an engaging writer who knows how to explain her subject to someone who knows very little about him or the individual art pieces in this book. I would recommend this book. 

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

A Man and His Cat, Vol. 3

Today’s post is on A Man and His Cat, Vol. 3 by Umi Sakurai. It is 144 pages long and is published by Square Enix Manga. The cover has Fukumaru and Kanda on it as Kanda plays the piano. You do not have to have read the first two volumes but it will help you understand the story a little better. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes sweet, slice of life stories. The story is from third person of mostly Fukumaru but others adding insight into different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Fukumaru's in the hospital and in big trouble! This turn of events leaves Mr. Kanda in big trouble too, emotionally speaking. Both the man and the cat know what it's like to be lonely, and as the days pass in a whirl, the reason Mr. Kanda weeps from time to time gradually becomes clear... 

Review- More of Fukumaru and Kanda’s daily life together as they heal and love each other. Fukumaru has to go to the vet and that causes Kanda all kinds of worries. Fukumaru is still worried about Kanda rejecting him but is slowly getting better about it. We see more of Kanda's life before Fukumaru and what happened to him after his wife suddenly died and we see more of the people in Kanda’s life. All in all a good volume that only made me cry a little at the end. Kanda is going to help a friend who has be given an abandoned cat and the friend doesn’t know what to do. I love this series, it really captures the life of having pets with all the joys and pain. I highly recommend this series. 

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story

Today’s post is on Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story by Lauren Myracle, Isaac Goodhart (Illustrations). It is 185 pages long and is published by DC comics. The cover is an illustration of Victor and Nora. There is no foul language, discussion of sex and sexuality, and no violence in this graphic novel. The intended reader is someone who likes DC comics. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Seventeen-year-old Victor Fries has a cold heart. After his brother died in a tragic house fire for which Victor feels responsible, his parents have isolated themselves, and Victor has dedicated his whole life to one thing: science.

Nora Kumar is full of life. She is suffering from an incurable illness that will slowly consume her, so she's decided to live her last days to the fullest at her summer home outside of Gotham City until her birthday. On that day, she plans to take her own life.

When Victor and Nora happen to meet at the cemetery outside of town, they are astonished to find the connection they have each been missing in their lives. Their summer quickly spirals into a beautiful romance, and Victor's cold heart begins to thaw, allowing him to enjoy life just a little more. But when Victor learns of Nora's illness, he's driven to try to find a solution to keep from losing another person he loves...by any means necessary.

Review- This is an excellent origin story for one my favorite DC villains. Victor is dealing with grief from the death of his older brother and Nora is facing her own death but on her terms. There are some very deep things going on in this novel from survivors guilt or planning suicide, Myracle and Goodhart don’t sky away from these hard topics. The art is good with the colors being different when we change perspectives from Victor, with cooler shades of blue, to Nora, with warmer pinks. If you like villain origins stories or like me are a fan of Victor Fries, then you should give this graphic novel a chance. 

I give this graphic novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book front local library. 

Takane & Hana, Vol. 3

Today’s post is on Takane & Hana, Vol. 3 by Yuki Shiwasu. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the third in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand what is going on. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The cover has Hana eating a tomato and Takane flailing in the background. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, comedy manga, and interesting characters. The story is told mostly from Hana’s perspective with some from Takane at times. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Hana’s scores on her proficiency test are dismal, and everyone around her, including her teacher, blames her new love life! Hana adamantly denies that to be the cause and vows to study hard to do better on her finals. But when Takane storms in to tutor her, will his help actually prove to be more of a distraction? 

Review- More humor from these two idiots and I loved every minute of it. So we get lots of little stories in this volume from Hana having to study harder for her finals to Takane and his friend working out their issues. The humor has slowed down some in this volume as we are getting more character development moments in between the hilarity from Hana and Takane. They are learning more about each other and developing a strong friendship, in spite of how silly Takane can be. But he is growing from interacting with Hana, her family, and friends. I look forward to seeing where they are going next.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Rules for Vanishing

Today’s post is on Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall. It is 402 pages long and is published by Viking. The cover is an illustration of woods with a woman’s silhouette hidden in the trees. The intended reader is someone who likes horror and young adult novels. There is mild foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person dialog, interview, text messages, and other ways. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Once a year, the path appears in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Who is brave enough to find her--and who won't make it out of the woods?

It's been exactly one year since Sara's sister, Becca, disappeared, and high school life has far from settled back to normal. With her sister gone, Sara doesn't know whether her former friends no longer like her...or are scared of her, and the days of eating alone at lunch have started to blend together. When a mysterious text message invites Sara and her estranged friends to "play the game" and find local ghost legend Lucy Gallows, Sara is sure this is the only way to find Becca--before she's lost forever. And even though she's hardly spoken with them for a year, Sara finds herself deep in the darkness of the forest, her friends--and their cameras--following her down the path. Together, they will have to draw on all of their strengths to survive. The road is rarely forgiving, and no one will be the same on the other side.

Review- This was a fantastic novel, everything from the world building to the way the narrative is told, it was great. The story is being told to some paranormal investors who are just trying to understand what happened to a group of teens. Sara’s sister Becca went missing one year before and everyone thinks that she just ran off with a boyfriend. But Sara knows different, she knows that Becca went looking for Lucy Gallows and the road that only appears one a year. Together with their friends, Sara goes to find her. From there we get some great creepy thrills and a very cool villain. I had a wonderful time reading this novel and I cannot wait to read her next novel. 

I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

Fiancée of the Wizard Manga, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Fiancée of the Wizard Manga, Vol. 2 by Masaki Kazuka (Illustrator), Syuri Nakamura (Original Creator), Keiko Sakano (Character Design). It is 176 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has the two main characters in their wedding clothes. The intended reader is someone who has read the first volume, likes shojo manga, and isekai stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- An ordinary story with an extraordinary love...

With Egiedeyrus's time at school behind him, he's quickly appointed as the prestigious

Chief Enchanter to the Court. Though Filimena hopes their nuptials will soon follow, Edy's busy work schedule continues to obstruct their time together. Despite setbacks, Filimena is content to wait, but the evolution of her new life takes an ominous turn with news of the Lord of Darkness's resurrection...The worst is still yet to come, however, as Edy must join the Hero's party on a quest to save the kingdom!

Review- An excellent continuation from the first volume. Most of this volume is the quest to defeat the Dark Lord but we get to see how much Edy loves Filimena and what he is willing to risk to get back home to her. It is a fun volume that ends with their marriage. We also see the hero of light and I like him. He is not put off by Edy’s rough personality or his black hair that causes Edy no end of trouble. The bad guy is beaten and the lovebirds get married at the end. Edy now has a cool new scar from the adventure. Filimena has some character growth as she has to deal with thinking that Ey has died on the adventure. But I was proud of her, as she faces herself and comes out stronger for it. I am very curious about where the story is going to go from this point on. I recommend this series.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Red Waters Rising

Today’s post is on Red Waters Rising by Laura Anne Gilman. It is 350 pages long and is published by Saga Press. As it is the third volume in the Devil’s West trilogy you need to have read the first two to understand the story. The cover has Isobel and the river spirit on it. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the main characters Isobel and Gabriel. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In the last novel of The Devil’s West trilogy, Isobel, the Devil’s Left Hand, and Gabriel ride through the magical land of the Territory to root out evil by the way of mad magicians, ghosts, and twisted animal spirits.

As Isobel and Gabriel travel to the southern edge of the Territory, they arrive in the free city of Red Stick. Tensions are running high as the homesteading population grows, crowding the native lands, and suspicions rise across the river from an American fort.

But there is a sickness running through Red Stick and Isobel begins to find her authority challenged. She’ll be abandoned, betrayed, and forced to stand her ground as the Devil’s left hand in this thrilling conclusion to The Devil’s West Trilogy.

Review- An excellent conclusion to a great series but I want Gilman to write more! Isobel comes into her own in the novel and she is more than just the Devil’s Left Hand. She is silver-touched, which in this world is very important and powerful in its own right. Everything from the first two novels comes together and the finishing is great. Gilman did a wonderful  job with this trilogy, from the world building to how the characters grew and changed over the course of the novels. Gilman is a wonderful writer and this trilogy is everything that a weird west fantasy should be. I highly recommend this trilogy and Gilman as an author. 

I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

A House in the Mountains: The Women Who Liberated Italy from Fascism

Today’s Nonfiction post is on A House in the Mountains: The Women Who Liberated Italy from Fascism by Caroline Moorehead. It is 416 pages and is published by Harper. The cover has a picture of three of the women on it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in World War II history and women’s history. There is foul language, discussion of rape and sexual abuse, and lots of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- In the late summer of 1943, when Italy broke with the Germans and joined the Allies after suffering catastrophic military losses, an Italian Resistance was born. Four young Piedmontese women—Ada, Frida, Silvia and Bianca—living secretly in the mountains surrounding Turin, risked their lives to overthrow Italy’s authoritarian government. They were among the thousands of Italians who joined the Partisan effort to help the Allies liberate their country from the German invaders and their Fascist collaborators. What made this partisan war all the more extraordinary was the number of women—like this brave quartet—who swelled its ranks.

The bloody civil war that ensued pitted neighbor against neighbor, and revealed the best and worst in Italian society. The courage shown by the partisans was exemplary, and eventually bound them together into a coherent fighting force. But the death rattle of Mussolini’s two decades of Fascist rule—with its corruption, greed, and anti-Semitism—was unrelentingly violent and brutal.

Drawing on a rich cache of previously untranslated sources, prize-winning historian Caroline Moorehead illuminates the experiences of Ada, Frida, Silvia, and Bianca to tell the little-known story of the women of the Italian partisan movement fighting for freedom against fascism in all its forms, while Europe collapsed in smoldering ruins around them. 

Review- A great overview of the Italian war front and what information we can find on the women who fought there. Moorehead, who is an excellent writer and researcher, turns her eye to Italy> There is so much information going on in this book at times it can be overwhelming but the women are barely there. At least that is what I felt like. I know that most of the problem is what the people in power at the time did not understand or see what the women give to be free but that makes this book less about them more about the italian front in general. That said it was interesting and I have never really read anything about Italy after it fell and what happened to the people who were trapped with the Italian fascists and the Nazis. Not my favorite of her books but still a solid read. 

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway!, Volume 1

Today’s post is on I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway!, Volume 1 by ＡＴＡＫＡ, Sou Inaida (Contributor), Hachipisu Wan. It is 184 pages long and is published by Tokyopop. The cover is a beautiful illustration of Mystia and Raid. The intended reader is someone who likes isekai manga and otome game tropes. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters moving as the chapters end. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Fated to die as the villainess of an otome game, Mystia sets out to change her own unhappy ending!

Mystia Aren is the daughter of a noble family, and she just started high school. She’s surrounded by a group of adoring classmates and her charming fiancé. Everything seems perfect.

Except that this world is actually a dating sim called Kyun-Love, and Mystia knows she's been reincarnated into the role of the main character's evil rival! Mystia is determined to do everything she can to avoid her fate, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Especially when all the boys keep falling in love with her! 

Review- A fun new isekai manga in the otome style, right up my alley. Mystia died in her first life and has been reincarnated into a new one but she still has memories from her first one. So that’s the set-up for this type of manga and I enjoy it. Mystia is a good main character but she doesn’t understand how her actions will change the world around her. This manga is just like My Next Life as a Villainous’, but played seriously not for laughs. I think it works and I would like to see where the story is going as I haven’t read the light novel it is based on. I want to the meet the ‘real’ heroine and see what happens next. If you like otome isekai stories then you should give this one a try. 

I give this manga a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Girl Who wasn’t There

Today’s post is on The Girl Who wasn’t There by Penny Joelson. It is278 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks. The cover is black with a window in the center and girl in outline. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult thriller novels. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of main character Kasia with interludes from the mysterious girl. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- I know what I saw.

Nothing ever happens on Kasia's street. And Kasia would know. Her illness keeps her home for days at a time, with little to do but watch the world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she's not sure she can believe her own eyes...

So she sets out to find the only other witness. The girl in the window across the street. The girl who was also watching when things went down.

But what Kasia discovers shocks her more than the kidnapping itself.

There is no girl.

Review- This is a very fun YA thriller a la Rear Window. Kasia is dealing with a kind chronic fatigue syndrome so she’s living at home all the time. One night she sees a young woman get pulled into a car as she was fighting with a man. Kasia calls the police and she notices that there is a girl in the house across the street  and she knows that no girl lives there. That is the start of the journey with Kasai and the hidden girl. The writing is solid, the characters are great, and the story is an interesting pull between Kasai’s life of school and her disease with the hidden girl in the background but always there. I really enjoyed this novel and I would recommend this for a nice thriller with some good slice of life as the base. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.