Jade City by Fonda Lee

This is my last book of 2020 that I somehow skipped posting last year. I’ll sneak it in now. This was one of Time’s top 100 fantasy novels, and gave me a J title (the last letter I needed in my Reading the Alphabet Challenge).

Published: 2017

Genre: fantasy

Length: 495 pages

Summary: Short version: The Mountain Clan tries to take control of the jade trade

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

I needed a Q author and saw this on a friend’s Goodreads feed. It sounded interesting.

Published: 2017

Genre: historical fiction

Length: 494 pages of story, 503 pages with author’s note (which you should totally read if you enjoy the book)

Setting: a bit in England, but mostly France in 1915 and 1947

Summary: Short version: The intersection of Charlie’s search for her cousin and Eve’s history as a spy

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

I had enjoyed New York 2140 so much this summer that when I saw this book on the new book shelf at the library, I picked it up immediately.

Published: 2020

Genre: climate scifi

Length: 563 pages

Setting: various part of the world with the center storyline in Zurich, Switzerland, about 50 years in the future

Summary: Short version: How humanity might address rising greenhouse gas levels

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

I had heard so much buzz about the book and movie, I decided to read it when I found it as an ebook from my library.

Published: 2013

Genre: fiction

Length: 403 pages

Setting: mostly Singapore, but also various exotic locations around Singapore, early 2010s

Summary: Short version: Rachel meets Nick’s Singaporean superrich family

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Miss Adventure had read this book and loved it. I was in the mood for some fantasy and this book was in the house. It’s the first book in the Crescent City series, just published this spring (so now I have to wait for the next books to come out).

Published: 2020

Genre: fantasy

Length: 803 pages

Setting: Crescent City in a modern, magic-powered society

Summary: Short version: Bryce finds out the truth behind the death of her best friend

She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore

This book was discussed on Strong Sense of Place as historical fiction set in Liberia. I wanted to read a book set in a new country, and this fit the bill.

Published: 2018

Genre: magical realism/historical fiction

Length: 294 pages

Font: Adobe Jenson Pro

Setting: Virginia, Jamaica, and Monrovia (which became Liberia), mid 1800s

Summary: Short version: Four characters with special powers fight for freedom

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Miss Adventure recommended this book to me. It’s not often she recommends me a book, so I am sure to read it when she does. She thought I’d enjoy the references to scifi fan culture.

Published: 2017

Genre: YA romance

Length: 319 pages

Font: Arkhip, Avenir, and Sabon LT Std

Setting: Atlanta, Georgia (although it really was “generic suburbs”), present day

Summary: Short version: A modern, geeky retelling of Cinderella

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

A friend recommended the book to me. I was in the mood for some YA so I picked this up.

Published: 2016

Genre: YA historical fiction

Length: 391 pages

Font: Adobe Garamond Pro

Setting: Germany, 1945

Summary: Short version: Four characters run to the German coast to escape the advancing Russians

New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson

This was provided by the Audiobook SYNC program for free this summer. I recognized the author and decided to listen.

Published: 2017

Genre: science fiction

Narrators: Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, Jay Snyder, Caitlin Kelly, Michael Crouch, Ryan Vincent Anderson

Length: 625 pages

Setting: New York City, 2140-3

Summary: Short version: The lives of nine people who live in the Met Life building in a drowned New York City

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

This is Jemisin’s latest book. I’d read the prologue as a short story and was intrigued by the concept. Besides, I love her books. Of course I’d read her new one.

Published: 2020

Genre: urban fantasy

Length: 434 pages

Setting: New York City, present day

Summary: Short version: The spirit of NYC manifests in avatars representing its boroughs, and has to fight an enemy