Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Magical found families are my cat nip

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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After months of work stress, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was exactly what I needed. This cozy fantasy romance introduces us to Mika Moon, an orphaned witch living in the UK. She meets every quarter in secret places with fellow witches of Britain. They’re not allowed to talk to each other except at these meetings, lest they be discovered and persecuted. Primrose, Mika’s guardian, is the de facto head of the witches who enforces these rules for the greater good. Much to Primrose’s […]

A gripping Southern noir

All Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

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When not reading romance, I love me some mysteries! I usually stray into cozies with pun titles, but been known to enjoy a good detective novel too. All Sinners Bleed was my first read from S.A. Cosby. The novel follows Titus Crowne, a newly elected Black sheriff when tragedy befalls the hometown where he serves. A school shooting uncovers buried secrets and forces the town to reckon with the concept of murderers in their midst. Titus was in the FBI and came home to live […]

The Light, The Dark, and The Dragon

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

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Consort of Fire was an insta-buy because I love the author duo Kit Rocha to pieces! Their new duology kicks off with Sachielle on her way to become the said consort of a mysterious dragon lord. He is a powerful man named Ash who can literally become a dragon. This immortal dude is pretty scary, but Sachi isn’t afraid. She has been dreaming of fire and determined to seduce him… The twist is she is on a lifelong path to assassinate him lest she will […]

Sometimes all you need is a nosy, old lady

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Once again, I was blindly looking for another audiobook to listen to in my car. This time I stumbled upon Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023) by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I had not heard of it, but it had some good reviews and I was a little desperate for something that was immediately available from my library. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Although the mystery portion of the book was a little lacking, the characters and the storyline were engaging and fun. Vera Wong lives by […]

A Classic With a Fantastic Final Line

The Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie

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Best for: Those looking for a quick, satisfying read. In a nutshell: Leonard is accused of killing an elderly woman, Emily. He believes his wife will serve as his alibi. Will she? Worth quoting: “Everything has something to hide, something they would do anything to protect.” Why I chose it: I enjoyed “The Unexpected Guest,” and have been checking out what is available of Christie’s at my local library. Review: I listened to this, and it was read by Christie’s grandson. Cool idea, but his […]

Minority Musings

Quarterly Essay 96 by George Megalogenis

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In this Quarterly Essay (available free on Audible!), journalist Megalogenis unpacks the world of Australian politics as we plunge forward to our next federal election in 2025. It’s clear, as one looks at elections around the world, that the rules of the past in elections are gone. Polls no longer reliably predict winners. Incumbents no longer reliably get second terms. People don’t vote in blocks like they used to, and single-issue parties and politics are taking hold. It’s a fascinating (if terrifying) time to be […]



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