Hello fellow boozie readers!

Sam’s Update:

Boy I’ve had a week. The gov’t is still shut down. My contract is at risk. My town is metaphorically on fire. And my pain has been really bad.

What Sam finished this week:

• The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson: Guys, this book was exceptional. This is a fantasy story set in the Iberian Peninsula during Ferdinand and Isabella’s reign as they unify into one Spain. The issue is that Grenada, the last Muslim province, rejects this premise and is at war. Our main character is Fatima, a courtesan in the sultan’s harem. Her bff is Hassan, the court map maker and everything that he draws becomes real. Full review to come.
• The Afterward by EK Johnston: What happens after the LoTR-type quest is over? How does everyone go back to their lives? Our main characters are the token thief and the apprentice knight. Both ladies. Actually, there is only one male squad member, the wizard. Everyone else is a badass lady. This book was super cute. It’s a quick read and I really enjoyed it.

What Sam’s reading now:

• The Reach Between Worlds by Cameron M. Hayden: This was the book I pulled from my TBR jar. It seems like a cross between Harry Potter, Mistborn, and Name of the Wind. The main two characters are Taro and Nima, brother and sister, sent to infiltrate the magic school in order to save their parents from illness at the behest of a crimelord. I wish I didn’t see so much influence from those other three books. But it’s not bad so far.
• The Black Powder War by Naomi Novik: This is the third book in the Temeraire series. Napoleonic wars with dragons. I’m listening to this on audio and am still enjoying the hell out of it.
• Everless by Sara Holland: This book where years of your life are currency. YA Political Intrigue fantasy. I’m also audioing this one. I couldn’t finish it by the time it went back to the library so I was waiting on my library hold to come through. Now that it has I’m too excited by The Black Powder War to go back… oops.

Melinda’s Update:

What Melinda finished this week:

• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena: What a crazy book! Twists were days. In this mystery, the characters try to unravel what happened the night a baby was kidnapped while her parents were at a party next door. So many secrets—stay tuned for the full review! (Editor’s Note: review is written and scheduled!!)

What Melinda is reading now:

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: I am a bit late to this one, but definitely thought it was an important read. If you haven’t heard about it, the story follows Starr, a Black teen who balances two worlds: that of her predominately White private school and mostly Black neighborhood. After her childhood best friend Khalil is shot in front of her by a cop, the incident spirals into a major headlines and Starr grapples with how to find her voice. We haven’t reviewed this one yet, but it will probably warrant a sober review, similar to Dear Martin by Nic Stone, and it sounds like Linz has tried but can’t stop crying.
• Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event #1-7 (2016): As a huge fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (shut it, Sam) – Editor’s note: RUDE but not a huge comic reader, my husband has been pushing me to read this for a bit. From his POV, it sounds like this was the basis for Captain America: Civil War, which is definitely in my top 5-ish MCU movies. I read Thanos Quest/The Infinity Gauntlet (the origin of Avengers: Infinity War) based on his rec and LOVED, so this is promising.

Ginny’s Update:

What Ginny Is Reading:

I am continuing my habit of reading multiple books at a time. (Also, i love the MCU)

• The Power by Naomi Alderman – I’m reading this for a book club and Im not quite far enough in to have an opinion yet
• Final Draft by Riley Redgate – this is contemporary YA with a high schooler who writes sci-fi. She feels about it the way O have so often felt about what Im writing and there a few lines in this book that feel like coming home.
• Winter by Marissa Meyer – Its been a while since I read the prior books but this book is nonstol twists and turns and makes for a great audiobook

What Ginny Finished Reading:

• In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire – there’s gonna be a review so I’m not covering it here. Just 😍😍😍
• We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix – this wasnt super my book. I dont really have the metal mentality and there was a mundane brutality that made me a little uncomfortable. That being said the ending was beautiful and so so worth the prior discomfort. 3.5/5.
• Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler – gonna be honest. This book just made me sad. I dont like overly nostalgic things (they tend to make me maudlin if they go on for too long) and this was drowning in it. Poor Becks family was kind of awful and I just felt bad. 2/5.

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,

Sam, Melinda, and Ginny