This week is that week where we coax things out of their hiding places, like small rabbits, librarians, and pegasusesssses. Or however many 's's there are in a plurality of pega—winged horses.
Anyway, let's start with Perfectly Pegasus, a lovely picture book by Jessie Sima about Nimbus, a young pegasus who wishes upon a star. Unfortunately for Nimbus, the star falls to earth before she can finish her wish—which is quite rude, thank you very much—and so Nimbus must descend from the clouds to find that pesky star. Naturally, this turns into an adventure. Sima's previous book, Not Quite Narwhal, was a hit a few years ago, and we expect Perfectly Pegasus to be as well received.
And speaking of talking animals, Gregory Maguire is back with Cress Watercress, the story of a small rabbit who ventures out into the wide world when Papa Watercress fails to come home one evening. Now, we all know what likely happened to Papa, but young Cress is one of those eternally hopeful types. His quest for closure includes foxes, snakes, bears, and scary humans. Maguire, as you may recall, has written a string of bestsellers about fairy tale characters, and Cress Watercress is an enchanting departure for him. It's also filled with fabulous illustrations by David Litchfield. Recommended.
Meanwhile, on the debut shelf, we have Judy I. Lin's A Magic Steeped in Poison, a book about magical tea practitioners. Young Ning, who is bereft about poisoning members of her family with a bad brick of tea, hopes to find a way to save her sister from a slow death by winning an imperial tea-brewing competition. Naturally, matters get complicated as Lin steeps us in her deliciously realized world and artfully crafted side characters. Fun and refreshing.
And speaking of books to curl up with, here is Ellie Alexander's Lost Coast Literary, a decidedly cozy mystery about a book editor who is given the keys to a ramshackle Victorian mansion filled with old manuscripts. Our intrepid book editor discovers that she must finish editing these manuscripts in order to inherit the estate. Strangely, the changes she makes to these manuscripts manifest themselves in the world around her! It's a magical gift, until, you know, it isn't. Naturally, everything our book editor thinks she knows about life and love is tested, and when she finds a very special manuscript, she finally understands the stakes.
And speaking of high stakes intrigue, Kate Quinn returns with The Diamond Eye, a fictionalized novel about Lyudmila Pavlichenko, history's greatest librarian-sniper. Mila is forced to flee her family home when the Nazis invade, and she joins the Russian Army who are always on the lookout for feisty shooters. Mila, determined to find her place in the world, dutifully practices shooting Nazis in the eyes, collecting leaves to send home to her son, and chatting up Eleanor Roosevelt.
What? It's fiction, except for the true bits.
Quinn has been on a tear recently with her historical fiction, and The Diamond Eye is one of those books that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
And here's Siri Pettersen's The Might, the conclusion to The Raven Rings trilogy. Pettersen's series is set in a vaguely Nordic fantasy world and is a really strong character-driven narrative about the intersection of power, family, and identity. War is coming—it's been on its way for a thousand years—and Hirka and Rime must find a way to be together before the world comes to an end. Stirring stuff!
And speaking of books about earnest feelings, Stephen Graham Jones's My Heart is a Chainsaw is out in paperback this week. On the surface, it's a story about murder in a small town. But when you rip that top layer off, you'll find a book about absent parents, heartbreak, colonialism, indigenous displacement, and slasher films. All anyone ever wants is a home. The question is: How much blood will be spilt in the process?
On a lighter note, here is Margerie Swash's The Woman, the Mink, the Cod and the Donkey. Yes, it's a pitch-perfect parody of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, right on down to the missing Oxford comma in the title.
You gotta commit to the bit, you know. You really do.
Like William W. Johnstone, for instance. Dark Night in Big Rock is what? His forty-sixth book since he passed away?
This one follows the next generation of the Jensen family. Louis didn't want to be like his daddy, Smoke, and so he went off to law school. Now, with a fancy law degree instead of a tin badge, he's taking care of justice in Big Rock. It turns out, however, that practicing law is just as dangerous as dealing with cattle rustlers and wild outlaws. A pair of ranchers are all twisted up about water rights, and young Jensen might have to set aside his fancy law degree for some stone cold lead.
Meanwhile, here are John W. Reid and Thomas Lovejoy with Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet. Reid and Lovejoy explore the remaining megaforests and offer up what Booklist calls "deeply informative and inspiriting forest advocacy." Amen.
And speaking of leafy things, here is Sofia Nordgren's The Nordic Baker: Plant-Based Bakes and Seasonal Stories from a Kitchen in the Heart of Sweden. Nordgren has taken home a number of Swedish Food Blog Awards over the past few years, and The Nordic Baker is a snapshot of her work. Purty and tasty.
And that is a fine sentiment to leave you with this week, dear readers. Enjoy the sun. Eat some healthy and tasty things. And don't forget to visit your local bookstore. Like our grandfathers used to say about baths: "At least once a week, whether you need it or not."
