Fiction:
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is historical fantasy set in the 1920s Black neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.. Clara Johnson is able to speak with spirits called Enigmas, which can help humans with problems via a “Charm” but also demand a “Trick” in return. When local people begin to turn up with vacant stares and lost motivation, it’s clear something unnatural is happening. Clara has been isolating herself after the traumatic event that resulted in her Charm and Trick, but she can’t leave others to suffer if she might be able to help, and she isn’t able to help the Afflicted alone. The plot becomes a found family heist with supernatural elements and a hint of romance. I loved every minute of it.
Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld by Catherine Lloyd is second in a historical mystery series set in 1830s England. Lady Caroline has become companion to Mrs. Frogerton to support her younger sister, but they seem to be friends as well as mistress and employee; their relationship was my favorite thing about this book. Mrs. Frogerton has found new entertainment at the home of a spiritualist, who is unfortunately murdered. Though I did suspect the ultimate villain, there were so many twists and turns that I doubted myself and remained entertained throughout. I plan to seek out the first in the series.
I also did a re-read of Martha Wells’ Murderbot series. This was partly in honor of the AppleTV version that launched this month, and partly because May was a really difficult month for me. I took a lot of joy in the re-read, and noticed a few details I’d missed previously, which is always lovely.
Fanfiction:
I returned to the AU soulmark series An Ever-Fixed Mark by AMarguerite for the second and third installments, which I enjoyed as much as the first. That Looks on Tempests explores what might have happened if Colonel Fitzwilliam had survived Waterloo. A Dalliance with the Duke tries a different path, in which widowed Lizzy takes up with the Duke of Wellington instead of her cousin-by-marriage Darcy. For those who are not fanfiction readers, a “soulmark” story generally posits that people are born with, or attain at adolescence, a mark somewhere on their body, usually a name or a line of dialogue, that indicates one’s soulmate/true love/most significant person. The best of these stories, I feel, interrogate the concept and its societal and personal implications, which the author does in this series.
