Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“You want us to Molotov cocktail our way out of here.” He gestured. “It would be a distraction, at least.”

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

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Partners in Crime is the Alisha Rai book I’ve always wanted. I had such a good time with this. Exes Mira and Naveen get kidnapped together and work together to get themselves out of the trouble Mira’s late father got them into. This is a fun ride, and I recommend not thinking to hard about time. If the last couple of years have taught us anything, time is fake. Also fake – Mira’s name and utterly boring accountant persona. Even more fake – the reasons […]

She sees clearly now that causing mass murder and mayhem was a mistake.

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

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The Genesis of Misery is not a queer retelling of Joan of Arc in space, but it also kind of is (…innn sppaaaaace). Let’s review a few things about the Patron Saint of France: during the 100 Years War (1337 – 1453), Joan was a peasant teen-aged girl who had visions and heard voices which she believed were divine. She led the French to victories against the English. But after some losses, she was captured by the English, tried for heresy, and executed by being […]

She’d been eyeballs-deep in chronic violence since birth.

A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet.

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Amanda Bouchet returns to the world of her Kingmaker Chronicles with a new book that focuses on Griffin’s younger sister, Jocasta, and his best friend, Flynn. Now that Cat and Griffin are installed as the Queen and King of a newly united Thalyria, they can no longer go adventuring. So when Cat is given the Elixir of Eternal Life (it’s a bad thing), they must remain at court, pretending everything is fine. Jocasta, an herbalist and healer, thinks she can find Circe’s island prison and […]

He looked at her with wonder, as if he’d seen an undiscovered ocean meant only for him to explore.

Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin

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A couple of years ago I read a charming witchy Yuletide short story in the first Love All Year anthology. The author was Celestine Martin and I kept an eye for her name. When Witchful Thinking popped up on NetGalley, I snatched it up. This is Martin’s debut novel and it is charming. It’s imperfect, it dragged a bit in the middle, and it took Alex an annoyingly long time to get himself together. That said, it was a lovely read with pluses that outweigh […]

An invitation to the party

Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka by Cynthia Shanmugalingam

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Two things, if you like coconut milk and have access to fresh curry leaves (likely at a local Indian grocer), you need this cookbook; secondly, even if you do not like coconut milk and can’t get curry leaves to save your life, you probably still need this cookbook. Go ahead and get it because even if you only read it it’s still worth the money. Cynthia Shanmugalingam’s Rambutan is gorgeous. The photography is luscious. The writing is warm, funny, heartbreaking, and evocative. I can smell […]

We can listen for chords and cadences in the air.

How to Write a Song that Matters by Dar Williams

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I love listening to or reading about how artists create. Dar Williams is a phenomenal singer/songwriter. I’ve seen her live in small venues on a couple of occasions and she’s a lovely presence. In May 2020 she released “Something to Get Through” and the video includes signs from therapists. It’s a great song to breath to when panic starts to overwhelm. How to Write a Song That Matters puts on the page Williams songwriting retreat. I’m sure that the retreat is more rewarding in person, […]



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