Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Should I be taking you dancing?” “Not in those clothes. I’ve standards.”

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles

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And here he was now in his own bookshop, well fed, usefully busy, and enjoyably partnered. It made the violent assault and threat of torture seem quite worthwhile.” ― K.J. Charles, Slippery Creatures Will Darling has returned from serving in World War 1 and is starting to get back on his feet. After being unable to find employment upon returning to London, he is taken in by his estranged uncle, who runs a massive bookshop. When his uncle passes away from a stroke, Will takes […]

A spy, an assassin, and a telepath; meet the Forgers! Bingos #8 & 9!

Spy x Family: volume 1 by Tatsuya Endo

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CBR14 Bingo: “Font” – I love all the different fonts used for sound effects in comics. Spy x Family is written and drawn by Tatsuya Endo.  It’s the story of an elite spy, known only by his handle, Twilight.  He is an agent for an organization in Westalis and master of disguise.  The agency has learned that a far-right group in the country on their Eastern border, Ostania, is wanting to start a war with Westalis.  Twilight is dispatched to discover what the East is […]

“Kim was starlight and privilege; Will had his feet firmly fixed in the mud. They didn’t belong together. Except they did.”

Subtle Blood by K.J. Charles

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CBR14 Bingo: Scandal (the book features corruption, blackmail, kidnapping, and murder – not to mention gay people in the 1920s. Gasp!) Spoiler warning! This is the third book in a trilogy. While you can absolutely read this book without the others, you will not get all the beautiful payoff from various earlier storylines that way. Also, this review will contain mild spoilers for earlier in the series. Start with Slippery Creatures. For the last few months, Lord Arthur “Kim” Secretan and Will Darling have actually […]

It’s not classified so read about a spy!

Spy School the Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs

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Spy School the Graphic Novel is based from the Stuart Gibbs series of the same name. This is a modern take on the super spy but with all the classic elements. James Bond might have been smoother, but never as funny. Not having read the novels, I am not sure how they compare, but either graphic novel would be good for ages 10 and up. We follow a kid who is recruited for a special CIA run spy-creating school. Only he thinks it is a […]

The continuing adventures of Will and Kim

The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles

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CBR14 Bingo – Shadow (spies and all sorts of murky shenanigans throughout the story) This is book two in a series, and it really doesn’t work very well on its own. To start from the beginning, read Slippery Creatures first. Will Darling has settled more comfortably into his role as a London bookseller but has seen nor heard anything from the mysterious Lord Arthur “Kim” Secretan for several months. He has done his best to forget all about the man and get on with his life, agreeing to […]

‘… and to the women of science whose names we will never know -‘

The Physicists’ Daughter by Mary Anna Evans

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CBR 14 Bingo: Minds Justine’s true weapon is her mind, the things she learned from her parents, and her ability to solve problems and crack codes. Justine, a physicists’ daughter who lives in New Orleans, suspects that someone at her factory is a saboteur trying to thwart the war effort. But even she doesn’t know that she is the crosshairs of a spy. I really thought very hard about my rating for this book – I was torn between three stars and four, because while […]



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