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The Water Dancer
The Water Dancer
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Water Dancer byTa-Nehisi Coates is a book of contradictions: a book beautifully written about a shameful time in history.

Hiram is taken away from his mother as a child when she is sold to another owner. When his feats of memory are recognised by his owner/ father, he is taken in to the big house and educated. As he gets older, all Hiram wants is to be free to choose his own life and to have his own family.

When Hiram runs away, he eventually finds himself involved with the Underground Railway. And that is where he learns to control his ability to “conduct” himself to different places to help people.

I love magical realism and the way it makes us think about the way the world works in reality, as opposed to how we’d all like it to work. Hiram’s ability to conduct himself immediately to another place takes all the risk out of capture, the miles of struggle and needing to stay hidden. Of course, Hiram only gets to this stage after he experiences the trauma and inhumanity of being caught by the slave catchers himself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this - I listened on audiobook, and the narrator Joe Morton was amazing. Especially his singing - his voice just brought the characters to life.

A fabulous novel.
  
Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers (Warrior of the Divine Sword #2)
Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers (Warrior of the Divine Sword #2)
A.J. Locke | 2023 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MAGIC CORRUPTS, MAGIC CONQUERS is the second book in the Warrior of the Divine Sword series and follows on from book one, so I really do recommend you read that one first. It's been a while since I read it and it took me some time to remember what had gone on in book one and how it was relevant to now.

Penn and the others are all here, trying to move along in this new world. When Penn is attacked by a magical human tree (stick with me) it turns out her actions in book one have consequences. This girl never catches a break! And if that isn't bad enough, something happens with Gideon that no one expected, Toji is clinging on by his fingernails, and Callan finds out more of his mum's legacy. Phew!!! I'm exhausted just with that.

This book is non-stop action so make sure you are well-rested before diving in. It also comes with one helluva cliffhanger too, so consider yourself warned. It was an amazing follow-up to the previous book and definitely left me wanting more. Absolutely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 14, 2023
  
The Invisible Assistant
The Invisible Assistant
John Gaspard | 2020 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Magical Locked Room Mystery
Magician Eli Marks is surprised when his ex-wife, Deirdre, shows up at one of his magic shows with her new husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton. However, they are there seeking Eli’s advice. A recent murder/suicide inside a lock townhome appears to be open and shut to Fred, but Deirdre, a DA, is certain that something else is going on, and she is hoping that Eli’s unique view of things will help explain what really happened. Will his knowledge of magic help solve the case?

I’ve been meaning to read this story for a while, and I’m glad I finally did. This is a classic locked room mystery, and I always enjoy those. The solution was logical if a bit of a stretch. Still, I was willing to buy into it. We really only have three characters in this story, and the interaction between them was fun. As a fan of the series, I laughed at some of it, in fact. I suspect that those coming to the characters first the first time will find it just as amusing. The story is set early in the series, so fans should expect those dynamics as they read. Whether you are new to Eli’s world or not, this is a short story you’ll enjoy.