Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is the first book in a series the kids have read and Miss Adventure has been trying to get me to read. I finally got around to it because I was looking for something a bit lighter to read.

Published: 2012

Genre: YA science fiction

Length: 387 pages

Setting: New Beijing, about 100 years in the future

Summary: Short version: Prince Kai has to deal with a plague while avoiding marriage to the Lunar Queen

Zoo Day by Jim Butcher

I’m slowly making my way through Jim Butcher’s collection of short stories, Brief Cases. This is the last story in that collection, and the only new story in the collection.

Published: 2018 in Brief Cases

Genre: urban fantasy short story

Length: 58 pages

Setting: Chicago, after the events of Changes

Summary: Short version: A trip to the zoo from the viewpoint of Dresden, Maggie, and Mouse

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

I heard about the book on a Pop Culture Happy Hour book talk and added it to my TBR because of the Western African flavor of fantasy. It was also available as an audiobook, which I was looking for.

Published: 2018

Genre: YA fantasy

Length: 544 pages

Setting: various locations in the pre-industrial world of Orisha

Summary: Short version: Zelie goes on a quest to return magic to Orisha

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

This is the newly released sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. I’m a big fan of Margaret Atwood’s writing and have read many of her books (at least the newest stuff). When I saw this on the new book shelf at the library, I snapped it up.

Published: 2019

Genre: post-apocalyptic

Length: 415 pages

Setting: Gilead, in what used northeast U.S., and Ontario, Canada, after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, near future

Font: Hoefler Text

Summary: Short version: Women’s life in Gilead as the society is slowly undermined

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

This is the fifth and last book in the Great Library series. The family got to borrow it from a friend who ordered a copy of the book, which was great because I didn’t even realize it was out already.

Published: 2019

Genre: YA fantasy

Length: 354 pages

Setting: Alexandria, soon after the events of Smoke and Iron

Summary: Short version: The gang have to save the Great Library from internal and external attack

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville

I had The Scar on my TBR list, but it turns out I’d already read it. This is the first book in the New Crobuzon series.

Published: 2000

Genre: fantasy

Length: 710 pages

Setting: New Crobuzon, in a pre-Industrial Revolution-technology world

Summary: Short version: Isaac feels responsible for releasing slake-moths on the city

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

This was our book club choice for June

Published: 2014

Genre: historical fiction

Length: 359 pages of story, 373 pages total

Setting: mostly Charleston, SC, but also Philadelphia, PA, 1803-1838

Summary: Short version: The life of Sarah and her slave, Handful, in 1800s Charleston