Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


No homo for Brad Pitt

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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Nowhere Book Bingo 25: Reimagining or retelling of a classic CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge: History   Patroclus is exiled from his father’s kingdom after he accidentally kills a boy and is sent into fosterage with King Peleus. Here is where he meets Achilles, whose mother is the sea nymph Thetis. Achilles is supposed to become the greatest warrior who ever lived, and trains diligently to achieve this goal. While they are vastly different, Patroclus and Achilles become sworn companions, and Patroclus accompanies Achilles to train […]

A Frothy Adventure With Hints at Depth

The Selkie Scandal by Rosalie Oaks

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The Earl of Beresford isn’t expecting to get accosted by a naked woman on the beach, but the selkie cares little for propriety and demands help in finding her kidnapped brother, the High Prince of Skerry.  Beresford reluctantly agrees and sets out with his crew, a selkie princess, and a case of Beresford Plum Jam in order to find the missing prince. This is a delightful little novella, though it does raise more questions than answers.  It’s the prequel to a mystery series that I’m […]

“God is a Troubadour!”

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz

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Well, here it is, the book that made me cry, the book I’ll be throwing at anyone who seems vaguely interested in historical fantasy books that introduce children to big ideas and big research in an accessible way. Watch your head! *throws* Yes, I’m here to tell you a Newbery-honor book is supremely good, follow me for more shocking revelations. The Inquisitor’s Tale follows three remarkable kids and their magical dog as they try to survive Medieval France. Peasant girl Jeanne has visions of the […]

Dead gods, decapitated corpses and dastardly ex-husbands

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

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CBR17 Bingo: Purple (most of the cover, barring the cover image, is a lovely lavender purple) Stephen is one of the paladins of the Saint of Steel (who was a god, despite the name), who died very suddenly and unexpectedly a few years back. No one thought gods could die, and a lot of his paladins killed themselves and caused massive amounts of damage when it happened. Now, Stephen and the six other paladins who remain are housed at the Temple of the White Rat […]

Sapphic golem fantasy debut

The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez

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The Maiden and Her Monster fulfills the “diaspora” square for CBR17 Bingo. As soon as I learned of The Maiden and Her Monster, I knew I needed to read it. I love explorations of Jewish experiences and especially love different ways the golem story can be reimagined. Set in a Medieval Prague inspired setting, The Maiden and Her Monster follows Malka as she ventures into a cursed forest that has been killing the girls of her village so she can free her imma from the Church’s idea […]

A Monster-Hunting Take on the KKK

Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark

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I enjoyed this literally monstrous take on the KKK. In this novella, there are members of the Klan, who are normal humans, and then there are the Ku Kluxes, who look like normal humans unless you have a special ability to see that they are actual monsters, and a Klansman can become a Ku Klux. Maryse, Chef, and Sadie are a trio of monster hunters who go after the Ku Kluxes in 1920s Macon, Georgia. While Maryse is given “chosen one” status and narrates the […]



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