Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Pride and Prejudice Wearing a Witch Hat

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

by Leave a Comment

While Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy were stumbling around in their awkward courtship, it seems there was another story playing out in the background – that of Lydia Bennet, witch, her familiar/sister Kitty, and the literal demon Mr. Wickham. Reader, I love Pride and Prejudice. It was one of the first classic books that I read in its original form, and I’ve reread it numerous times over the years since. But I’ve usually avoided Pride and Prejudice retellings, doubtful of how they might add their […]

“…it is a painful thing to tell unhappy truths, even from behind a shield of honesty.”

Brothers of the Wind by Tad Williams

by Leave a Comment

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is probably my all-time favorite fantasy series and I’ve wanted to read Tad Williams’ more recent novels returning to Osten Ard, but I’ve been a little daunted by having to read through the series again. Brothers of the Wind felt like a good first step in that direction, as it’s a stand-alone prequel set 1,000 years before the novels. I did pay full price for this at the bookstore due to finishing Dune earlier than I thought and foolishly not bringing […]

It’s corn (I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing)

What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowell

by 12 Comments

One of the reading challenges I am doing this year requires reading a young adult horror novel.  I used What Stalks Among Us by Sarah Hollowell to check off that box.  To be honest I probably would have read this one anyway because of the haunted/mysterious corn maze, kind of punny title (corn has stalks …get it?) and time loops, well all those things check off internal “this is going to be good” checkboxes for me. The plot of the novel is that besties Sadie […]

The struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of three women in three time periods

Weyward by Emilia Hart

by Leave a Comment

My book club knocked it out of the park this month with Weyward.  Coincidentally,  Barnes and Noble chose it as this month’s speculative fiction pick.  Clearly we have excellent taste.  Emilia Hart has crafted a moving narrative across time by telling us the story of Altha Weyward in 1619, Violet Aryes in 1942, and Kate Aryes in 2019.  Altha, Violet, and Kate are Weyward women.  Born with the gift of being in tune with and connected to nature. For Altha, raised by her mother, another Weyward […]

First Book of the Year – A Book About Books

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

by 1 Comment

This is a late start for me this year—I have had a very busy couple of months. Hopefully things smooth out a bit! Lucky me, Mark Lawrence knocks it out of the park again. The man can write some serious engaging blends of fantasy and science fiction. With The Book That Wouldn’t Burn—the first book of his new trilogy—we have a love letter to stories, libraries and nostalgia.  Unlike a number of his previous trilogies (yes, the man is a prolific writer) The Book That […]

Happy International Women’s Day to Esther Green

The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott

by 1 Comment

First of all, Thank you, Emmalita, for The Keeper’s Six!  I’ve been rather bad about writing reviews but I want to share how awesome Esther Green is on International Women’s Day.  Esther is a badass, an adventurer, intelligent, determined, Jewish, a mother, a widower, a magical caster called a Lantern, is over 60 years old and still going on fantastical missions!  That’s the type of 60 year old that I hope to be. Esther Green is woken in the middle of night with an urgent call […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo