The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Review on Goodreads

This is an engaging, engrossing read. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator. I love paranormal/supernatural stories, and it is so awesome to read books about African American culture and stories. Set in 1919, Penelope sets the scene very well with real black history as the background. She doesn't shy away from discussing the travails of black people in that time period. The dangers faced by black people due to racism, racial violence, white supremacy and Jim Crow segregation. Neither does she downplay issues in the community such as colorism and elitism, and the extremes of the haves versus the have nots (often justified by Social Darwinism). Stuff that I know about due to my heritage is a part of this story. But I also learned something new. The lead character is based on a real life woman who was put on trial for shooting and killing a rioting white policeman who broke into her house and shot her and her father. In this case, Penelope gives it a paranormal element. However, it's a hair-raising story that is familiar even to this day as parallels to black people killed by the police in their own homes, such as Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jackson, among others, and how justice is often elusive in those cases. Fortunately, Clara (and her true life counterpart)'s charges were dropped. With this history, it's not surprising that Clara is hardened to the world and others, and you find out as the story unfolds why she comes off as so misanthropic. It's more from a shell of self-protection as opposed to genuine antipathy towards others. She also has the burden of seeing ghosts her whole life, and is often petitioned by others in the community in need to contact the spirits, called Enigmas. Clara knows they will come to regret any bargains they make with the Enigmas.

The characterization in this story was flawless. I appreciate how each pivotal character gets a POV and a bio of their life. Why they have unique abilities and the trauma they have faced in their lives.
I like how they come together in a way that compliments each other as they face a terrible threat to everyone. Each character found their way into my heart and I wanted them to have a happy ending. I feel like Zelda is such a mysterious character, and I want to know more about her.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I feel like some of the plotting got a little muddled towards the end. There was a lot going on in the climactic scene and I had to rewind the audiobook at some points because I was confused about what was happening. That being said, the storyline has a distinct feel, and some moments were genuinely spooky. I wasn't mad about the fact that I ended up finishing this book in October, even though I can't count it towards my October Scare Fest challenge. Lots of haunting imagery, and something about Southern folklore of haints, root magic, and bargains made at crossroads (figuratively and literally) always appeals to me. As I wrote earlier, the mix of authentic history and allusions to legends and folk wisdom the author used added so much to the texture of this story. Penelope even includes well known figures from Black history such as Carter G. Woodson and Langston Hughes (his cameo is quite amusing). Even WEB Dubois indirectly. Despite the nods to history and folklore, the story that Penelope added feels very unique, successfully building the author's own particular world in which people are gifted but those gifts are often due to powers given by spirits who demand much in return. There are some romantic subplots that I loved. It reminded me that I am still a romance lover (even though I haven't read much romance lately because I've been burned out and I'm not in the best mental space for it right now).

I definitely recommend this book to readers who love historical fantasy/paranormal rooted in American folklore and legends, especially those looking for stories featuring the Black experience in the early 20th century. I hope to read more books by this author, and I honestly would love it if this was an ongoing series.

Love Me Tender

 

Barbarian's Prize by Ruby Dixon (Book 5 in Ice Planet Barbarian's series)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars

My Review on Goodreads

In book five of the "Ice Planet Barbarians" series, almost all of the Earth women who crash-landed on the planet have found their mates with the local species of blue humanoids. Tiffany is far from eager for her turn.  In fact, she just wants to be left alone. The unmated males are buzzing around her like bees around a flower, and she's feeling overwhelmed. Salukh knows that Tiffany is his mate, even if his symbiont hasn’t resonated for her.  He is playing the long game and more than willing to give her time. He is happy to woo her and to be there for her.  Tiffany hates all the male attention, but she feels strangely drawn to Salukh, even knowing it’s not to meant to be. 

Barbarian’s Prize is a short but spicy-sweet romance story.  Spicy in that the love scenes are very frequent and very detailed. Sweet in that Tiffany and Salukh seem to have a very meaningful connection that goes beyond sex, even if the symbiont isn't saying so.  Despite the short length, the characters are well-developed. Salukh’s a gentle giant who would do anything for the woman who has his heart.  Tiffany is a trying to find her feet after a terrible event, and seeking a sense of purpose in her new life on the planet she dubs Not-Hoth (a call out to Star Wars's ice planet Hoth). Despite her issues, she does trust and loves spending time with Salukh, and he grows in her affections with each moment they spend together, getting past her feels and mental barriers against romance. Readers who love a sweet, kind hero who always puts the needs of his heroine first will fall head over heels for Salukh.  Tiffany’s reticence and fears are very understandable, given her past.  Their courtship is well paced as this couple take careful steps into deeper intimacy, rendered in spicy and steamy detail on the page.  The love that develops between them is believable, and Tiffany’s trauma is dealt with in a respectful, caring way. Readers who dive into this series with this book won’t feel confused as the storyline gives context to previous happenings.  

I wasn't in the mood for a book that's primarily focused on sexy times, so I was ready to move on from the love scenes at a certain point, and I wanted a little more plot.   My mind wanted to know more about the planet and if there are other humanoid cultures in other geographic regions.  I want to know how they established their communities on the planet.  I have to remind myself that's not the point of the book.  It's probably also the fact that I haven't been reading as much romance lately and I've gotten used to other parts of the story being equally explored. There's no real external conflict, so if you want a story that's more low stakes, this is for you. That said, I enjoy Dixon's writing.  I love stories about true love winning the day and this definitely fits the bill. Readers looking for a quick, very steamy and heartfelt paranormal romance that spends its time mainly on the couple interactions with a few meaningful interactions with side characters will enjoy this book.   I do plan to read other books in the series, and I'm ready for Josie's story now!

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.