Book Log: Kushiel's Scion, The Weaver and the Factory Maid, Klepto

25. Kushiel's Scion, by Jacqueline Carey

Imriel no Montreve de la Courcel is the son of two traitors. His mother, the infamous Melisande Shahrizai is the most famous and hated woman in Terre D'Ange. His foster parents, Phedre and Joscelin, are the most famous and beloved heroes of the land. And Imriel has a shadowy past of horror and torture. It's a weighty burden for a young man, and Imriel just wants to be good, to leave his past and traitor's blood behind him. And so, when he reaches the age of majority, he sets off for the University in Tiberium, to find himself and his path. He will also find a secret conspiracy, an illicit affair with a married woman, a city under siege, and an army led by a dead man.

It's hard to properly sum up this book. It is quieter and less directed than the Phedre books, but in no way less good. And it is so good to be back in Carey's Terre D'Ange. This is a book that reminds me once again why I love good meaty fantasy. This book is gorgeous, written in an intoxicatingly strong voice. The characters are vividly rendered. Imriel's internal struggles, far from making him whiny and annoying, make him human. And it is interesting to see familiar characters through new eyes. The book is long, but every page, every chapter, is eagerly anticipated. I loved every single minute of this book, and I am eagerly anticipating the coming Imriel books. (And I am also planning a reread of the Phedre books.)

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26. The Weaver and the Factory Maid, by Deborah Grabian

Ringan Laine, a musician who specializes in restoring old houses, comes into a piece of property. He is delighted, until he discovers that he is not the only resident - there is a ghostly presence in his cottage and barn. Before he and his longtime lover Penny can properly enjoy his new home, they must find a way to put the spirits to rest.

This is a quiet, comfortable ghost story. Ringan and Penny are fun characters, the sort of people you wish you knew. It took a chapter or two to hook me, but once I was hooked, I well and truly couldn't put this down. It's not a loud story. It feels personal and cozy and warm, and the details are vivid - I could almost see Ringan's cottage and barn in my mind. I quite enjoyed this, and immediately requested the next volume in this series from the library. I am looking forward to the next volume of Ringan and Penny's adventures.

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27. Klepto, by Jenny Pollack

Julie Prodsky is nervous and excited about starting High School of the Performing Arts in NYC. When she instantly bonds with cool, stylish Julie Braverman, things seem to be looking up. Julie B has a gorgeous apartment, a cool older sister, a permissive mom, and a fabulous wardrobe. Julie P soon learns Julie B's secret - most of her clothes are shoplifted. Julie B teaches Julie P how to shoplift, and soon, the two of them are making out like bandits - literally. But as her new wardrobe grows, Jule P starts to feel pangs of conscience. Will she be able to wean herself off of shoplifting? And will her newfound resolve tear a rift between her and Julie B?

This book takes place in the early 80s, and it's kind of a fun flashback. The clothes and music and technology are all 80s, and it's fun to read what sort of things were cool then. The story is fun and fast-paced, and Julie P's voice is strong and engaging. There are flaws, however. Julie's mom is extremely unobservant, a fact that Julie notes and is upset about, and yet is unresolved. A boyfriend plotline is introduces, but it ends weakly. And though Julie B seems to adore Julie B's conventional family and implies that her cool, fabulous family may be less than perfect, we never see it. This is a fun read, strong in some places and weak in others.