Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Why is the crow their emblem? Because crows remember.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

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Crooked Kingdom is the second half of the duology started in Six of Crows.  When first we met our six protagonists, they were all down on their luck in general society but they had carved out places for themselves in the street life.  They took on what many considered an impossible job, succeeded, and then had victory snatched from them by a double cross and kidnapping.  The start of Crooked Kingdom finds everyone brought low, mentally and physically, but with a new mission, to rescue their comrade […]

Superficially, it’s a comedy fantasy with pirates and otters but underneath is so much more

The Princess Beard by Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne

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The Princess Beard is the third book in Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne’s “Tales of Pell” series.  Once again they have me nearly doubled over with laughter while also appreciating their pro LGBTQ+, feminist, socially conscious agenda and sly pokes at the establishment.  Each of the three books this duo have written together can stand alone and be read individually.  However, the world is much richer if you have read the other books.  And as they are hysterically funny, I highly suggest reading all […]

An impossible job, near certain death, terrible odds…I love a good heist!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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Six of Crows was recommended to me before I had heard of the Grishaverse.  After receiving it as a gift in the 2018 Cannonball gift exchange, I discovered that it was part of a larger world setting and I should probably read the preceding trilogy first.  It took me a while to get around to the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy and then another length of time to get back to Six of Crows.  I’m glad I waited and read the trilogy first, otherwise, the world […]

It is the best of times and worst of times, to read Station Eleven

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

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Okay, yes, that is a Dicken’s quote, and it would have been more appropriate to use Shakespeare, but the sentiment is there.  Being on the verge of a potential pandemic makes reading Station Eleven occasionally challenging, as it’s easy to extrapolate how this could happen.  However, the book ends in hope.  While the world has gone through an apocalypse, people are still creating and sharing art, lifting each other up by nourishing the soul.  And I would hope the same would happen in our world […]

Great introduction to author Brandon Sanderson

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

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Two years ago when I set out to attempt my first full cannonball, I asked friends and family on Facebook what their book suggestions were, Skyward was one of them.  Later someone recommended it to me as a good introduction to author Brandon Sanderson, as I hadn’t read anything by him.  Despite fantasy being my jam, he’s written so much of it that previously I’ve been flummoxed as to where to start.  Ironically, I’m not starting with one of his fantasy novels.  Skyward is science fiction, […]

This book hijacked my TBR, no regrets

Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince - vol. 1 by V.E. Schwab (author), Andrea Olimpieri (artist)

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When I shared my review of Vengeful on FaceBook, a friend chimed in asking if I knew about Schwab’s graphic novel series.  I had not and was intrigued.  Then my favorite independent celebrated its grand reopening, after moving locations, so I treated myself and picked up The Steel Prince.  The cover is eye catching and it instantly grabbed my attention. At the time, I was behind in review writing and had intended to read Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik, once the reviews were written.  After just […]



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