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Fable by Adrienne Young

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This book is for any reader that has pretended to be a diver, diving deep into the ocean on the search for treasure, while in actuality diving in a swimming pool. Or for any reader that has pondered how enticing it would be, really, to say no thank you to current life and become a pirate, instead. If you’d rather not get water up your nose or say goodbye to stable income, Fable by Adrienne Young can provide similar high seas adventures from the comfort of your reading chair. Throw in a really cool protagonist, some slow burn romance, seafaring politics with a little bit of mystery, a ship crew that might have you thinking “squad goals”, and some child abandonment, and you have a favorite young adult novel of mine. The first in a nautical fantasy duology, Fable follows seventeen-year-old main character Fable as she navigates the unforgiving world of the Narrows, a collection of islands in the Unnamed Sea, after life has dealt her an unfair hand. 

Fable, at first introduction, seems unshakable. She lives a hard life on the port island of Jeval, known for its thieves and lack of resources, where she survives alone as the most skilled dredger on the island; in other words, she makes dives into the ocean in search of gems and anything else of value lodged in the coral surrounding the island. Unlike other dredgers, Fable has a secret she keeps: the gems sing to her. She can identify every gem she comes across, and can sense them when they are nearby, a dangerous ability in a world propelled by greed and survival. Fable learned these skills from her mother, who taught her the ways of being a gem sage. 

It doesn’t take long to learn that being unshakable is surface level; Fable is in survival mode. Fable grew up on the seas with her mother and father, Saint, on Saint’s ship until one night when Fable was thirteen the ship tragically sank, taking the life of her mother with it. Instead of doing, you know, something normal like caring for his grieving daughter, Saint instead abandons Fable on Jeval the following day with nothing to her name and no promise of return, telling Fable that if she gets herself off the island, he will give her everything she is due as his heir. That was four years ago. Now, Fable dredges to survive, selling what she dredges to the same trader that always comes to port, West, until she has enough coin to get off the island. 

Fable’s environment on the island becomes increasingly dangerous, eventually forcing her to barter for passage on West’s ship. Thus ensues seafaring adventures as Fable aims to complete her only goal: make it back to Saint and claim what is hers. Yet Fable must be careful, as her father isn’t just anyone, but the most successful trader in the Narrows with a large trading business, and should anyone discover who she is to him, it means certain death. And of course, the trip back to him is not easy, danger lurking at every turn. West’s crew is a tight knit, small group with secrets of their own, and Fable knows she shouldn’t trust them. But the more time they spend together, the more Fable thinks they might be what she truly needs: a family and people to call her own. Fable is smart and has clearly grown up learning how to navigate the harsh reality the dangerous world of the Narrows presents, and with everything seeming to work against her, can she persevere to find ultimate happiness and security? 

This is a book I’ve reread several times and always enjoy. While there are plot points that don’t truly make sense to me (like, what father dumps his pretty teenage daughter on a dangerous island because he is “scared for her safety”, and how, exactly does a crew of teenagers seem to defeat every obstacle a very hard world throws at them) I nonetheless find myself loving this book. It’s an easy, accessible read, with enough plot turns and excitement to keep me hooked. The descriptions, especially the underwater scenes, are beautiful. Adrienne Young brings the setting of the Narrows to life, which I always picture to be something like Pirates of the Caribbean. Fable is an easy book to dive into and devour, the combination of the plot, setting, and characters never disappoints me, and I enjoy it every time I pick it up and sail the Unnamed Sea. 

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Review by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

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In its third year, Joplin Public Library will again host Joplin Reads Together in April, the library’s Community Read designed for adults. Focused upon one bestselling novel, Joplin Reads Together aims to increase awareness of the Library and its services, provide a shared experience for the community, promote reading, and foster connection to local organizations. Joplin Public Library recently announced the 2025 Joplin Reads Together book selection: The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. The second of Stradal’s three published books, The Lager Queen of Minnesota became a National Bestseller in its first week of release, was named one of the best books of 2019 by NPR, USA Today, and Booklist, and won the 2020 WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction. Programs inspired by the book will take place in April, organized by Joplin Public Library and its Joplin Reads Together Community Partners, culminating in a visit from J. Ryan Stradal to Joplin Public Library on April 24th. Community partners include Friends of the Joplin Public Library, Post Art Library, and MSSU Spiva Library. Community members can participate by reading the book and joining programs offered by the Library and its community partners throughout the month of April. Copies of The Lager Queen of Minnesota are available to check out at Joplin Public Library, and the full list of Joplin Reads Together events can be found on joplinpubliclibrary.org/joplinreadstogether.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota has a lot to offer: family drama, sibling tension, humor, sadness, life in the midwest, pie baking, beer brewing, business ownership, and (if you listen to the audiobook version as I did) a slew of Minnesotan accents. One aspect that I am excited about with this novel is the setting of the midwest. It plays an obvious role in the characters lives, often being mentioned or explained as reasoning for certain customs or happenings, and as Joplin is located in the midwest I think it is a relatable, and often funny, detail of the novel. 

The novel focuses on two sisters living in Minnesota: Edith and Helen. Raised on a farm, their relationship meets with sudden turbulence when their father dies and leaves all inheritance to Helen. Helen says she intends to share a portion of the inheritance with Edith but never does. This results in sibling tension and a full stop to communication that propels much of the story, and I think would also be relatable to anyone that has squabbled with a sibling.

To make a living Edith bakes pies, but it is much more than that. Edith is a fabulous pie maker, even winning third best pie in the state of Minnesota while working at a nursing home, among other accolades. Edith doesn’t put much stock into her renowned pie baking, preferring to spend time with her husband and daughter, and granddaughter Diana, wondering all the while how different her life would be if she had received even a portion of the inheritance. 

While Edith is baking pies and living a quiet life trying to make ends meet, Helen finds herself falling into the world of beer brewing. Fascinated with the process and flavor potential of brewing, Helen takes her inheritance and establishes one of the best selling light brewing companies in the country. She’s a very successful business owner, her beer company Blotz found in every bar and brewery of Minnesota. 

But of course, things begin to go wrong and change is inevitable. Edith and Helen’s lives are each struck by tragedy. Edith becomes more involved with her granddaughter Diana’s life as a result, and Diana is intent on learning the ways of brewing beer and entrepreneurship. Helen is forced to think outside the box, taking a different look at her successful business. It might just be possible that Edith, Helen, and Diana’s problems could have the same solution: one another. 

Before reading this novel I assumed I would be annoyed by the stubbornness of Edith and Helen when it comes to their relationship, or lack thereof. I am pleased to report I was wrong; this novel surprised me with its simple yet effective presentation of life, choices, and family dynamics. J. Ryan Stradal has produced a novel that I think is very relatable and understandable for many reasons. I learned about pies and brewing, Stradal’s writing clear and not overly informative. Edith and Helen, while frustrating at times, became fun characters to read. They have different approaches to life but share parts of their personalities, including their stubborn, get-it-done attitudes. The novel presents strong midwest women and is told from the perspectives of Edith, Helen, and Diana over the span of several decades. Stradal’s writing style is captivating; I got the impression he cared for his characters and was invested in telling their story, and has the talent to evoke setting and emotions of characters. The Lager Queen of Minnesota is a smartly crafted, unique story, perfect for those interested in family sagas, multiple perspectives, and perseverance in the face of opposition. If you end up reading The Lager Queen of Minnesota, visit the Joplin Public Library on April 24th at 6pm to hear directly from J. Ryan Stradal about his novel.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

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I’ve been participating in Joplin Public Library’s Adult Winter Reading Challenge, a reading challenge designed specifically for adults that runs December 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025. The goal of the challenge is to complete five of fifteen provided reading categories, which include choices such as Debut Novel, Small-Town Setting, Western, and Suspense/Thriller, to name a few. The reader participating in the challenge chooses which categories they would like to complete, and what books to read. Once a reader completes the challenge they receive a ceramic mug from the Library and three tickets to enter into a prize raffle drawing. This challenge is ideal for regular readers who are looking for a challenge to read different genres or read outside their comfort zone, as well as individuals that want to be more regular readers and need a little nudge in that direction. Any adult can participate, no library card necessary, and challenge forms can be picked up in the Reference Department of the Library and found on our website calendar, as can a link to participate electronically.

The category I most recently completed is Been Meaning to Read, and for this I read the novel Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. A whimsical epic adventure, Tress of the Emerald Sea feels like a chuckle and warm hug from a friend and turned out to be one of my favorite reads this year. 

Tress is an 18 year old girl who lives on a rocky island void of vegetation and many other resources. The Emerald Sea her island is located upon is not like our seas: it is not made of water, but of green verdant spores which transform into vines upon contact with water. This makes sailing the seas (of which her world has 12 of different colors) tricky and dangerous. As such, Tress has lived the entirety of her life with her family on her small island, looking out upon the Emerald Sea and maintaining her teacup collection, of which she is very fond. 

Tress has one very good friend who she would like to be more than friends with on the island: Charlie. Charlie is the Duke’s son, although he pretends to be the grounds keeper when Tress is around, despite her seeing right through his act. Charlie and Tress spend a great deal of time together until the day the Duke puts his son on a ship and sends him off to find a bride. Tress and Charlie are devastated. Months pass, Charlie sends letters and cups to Tress, detailing how he is purposefully boring his potential brides, until word is received that the Duke’s son will be returning with his new bride. Tress is inconsolable; that is, until the Duke’s “son” returns and it isn’t Charlie at all but a squared jawed rude imposter! Tress learns that the Duke has abandoned Charlie to the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea, who is reportedly very evil and very unstoppable, and has adopted this fake son in place of Charlie. 

Well, Tress cannot stand for that. Someone must save Charlie, and that someone is her. Thus begins Tress’s epic adventure to save the one she loves. With a setup similar to many epic adventures, Tress is the hero that tackles impossible obstacles to see her end goal complete, with many mishaps, lovable characters, and self-growth along the way. Tress transitions from a stowaway on a boat, to a captive of a pirate ship, to a beloved crew member of that same pirate ship, to someone that can truly conquer all she takes on. There’s a talking rat, a cannon master with horrible eyesight, a wise yet intimidating dragon, and more verdant spores than Tress knows what to do with. The novel is narrated by a humorous character that Tress eventually encounters, and this narrator often breaks the fourth wall with asides to the reader that range from helpful information about a plot point or character, to random facts about himself, to nonsensical ramblings that have nothing to do with the story whatsoever; it’s wonderful. 

Brandon Sanderson has stated that he pulled inspiration for this novel from The Princess Bride after his wife pointed out that for the title character, there isn’t a lot of focus on the princess bride herself. Sanderson wanted a novel that featured a heroic female lead and that had similar spunk and whimsy to The Princess Bride, and boy did he accomplish his goal. Tress of the Emerald Sea is a delight to read. I really liked Tress as a heroine; she is kind, brave, practical, loyal, and not annoying in the way some heroines can be. The writing is clever and could be enjoyed by readers of all ages. This novel is fun to read, and I might be crossing into gushing territory here, but I do not have one negative thing to say about it. I recommend Tress of the Emerald Sea to readers interested in a character-driven playful adventure novel that simultaneously manages to accomplish creative world building and smile-inducing writing. 

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Review by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Audiobook Recommendations

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Many of the books I read are in audiobook form; I enjoy the ease of always having a book with me that I can listen to at various times of my day. Two reasons I’m so glad to have a library card are Libby and hoopla, audiobook borrowing services my Joplin Public Library card provides access to, and where I borrowed the below audiobook titles. I also enjoy receiving audiobook recommendations from fellow readers. For that reason I thought I would provide some of my own recommendations of audiobooks I have particularly enjoyed this year.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

This memoir by superstar Britney Spears was hard to listen to because Spears has written such a deeply personal, brutally honest look into her complex rise to fame and the way it molded and challenged her life. Chronicling her life from childhood to adulthood, Spears touches on personal relationships with family, boyfriends, husbands, individuals in the music industry, and her own reflections. A common thread is Spears’ recognition of the lack of control and choices she had in her own life, everyone from the media to her own family deciding things for the star, oftentimes without her knowledge. A large part of the memoir is dedicated to the conservatorship Spears was placed under with her father and an attorney serving as conservators. As a Britney Spears fan since her first album release in 1999, I, like many others, was anxious to read her memoir. I found myself laughing with her at times, sympathizing and feeling angry with her, and generally feeling horrible about everything Spears endured because of fame. The audiobook is narrated by actress Michelle Williams; Spears notes in the opening of the memoir that it was too difficult for her to write, let alone narrate. Williams does a fantastic job, transforming her voice to sound like Spears and invoking the emotions on the page; I often forgot I wasn’t actually listening to Britney Spears. I would highly recommend this book to fans of celebrity memoirs; it is brave and heart wrenching, showing the dark side of how toxic fame can be.

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What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

The description of this book includes the comparison “The Mummy meets Death on the Nile” – I’ve read few descriptions that had me borrowing a book faster. What the River Knows is a historical fantasy following protagonist Inez on a life changing journey to find out what happened to her parents after they disappear in the Egyptian desert, pronounced dead. Inez is sharp and persistent, raised in the upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires. Her parents spend half of their year in Egypt, searching for lost tombs and artifacts, leaving Inez behind. When Inez receives word of her parent’s death she takes on the task of discovering what happened. Along the way there is danger, history, excitement, and love. The audiobook I listened to is primarily narrated by Ana Osorio with some sections narrated by Ahmed Hamad. I particularly liked Ana Osorio as a narrator. This was a fun and turbulent read that really kept my interest. 

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All the Living and the Dead: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life’s Work by Hayley Campbell

Death affects us all; it is a part of life and surrounds the living. There are many reactions to death, one of which is curiosity. Journalist Hayley Campbell became familiar with death at a young age, peering at detailed drawings her father created as part of a Jack the Ripper comic book he was writing. Since then Campbell has wondered about the logistics of death, specifically the death industry and those that make their living working with the dead. In this close look at the death industry Campbell interviews the invisible laborers that have jobs many would never consider for themselves: executioners, embalmers, morticians, homicide detectives, and crime scene cleaners, as well as mass fatality investigators, a bereavement midwife, gravediggers, a cryonics facility, a crematorium operator, an anatomical pathology technologist, a Mayo Clinic director of anatomical services, and a death mask sculptor. By way of these interviews Campbell provides a deep dive into these professions, presents the question of what working with the dead does to the living, and explores various approaches and attitudes to death. In all instances Campbell goes to the interviewee, often at their place of work. This was a really interesting read, and listening to the author herself narrate the audiobook was awesome; I really felt the passion she had for her subject. Campbell respects the death industry and the dead and sheds light on dedicated people whose work is often left unknown and unappreciated.

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The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

This is a young adult coming of age novel that tells of Dill and his friends Travis and Lydia. The group are high school outcasts, leaning on one another for friendship and support. Dill lives with his mom who struggles to make ends meet; his dad is in prison. The main reason for Dill’s outcast status is his fathers very public fall from grace as a minister who handles poisonous snakes and speaks in tongues. Dill receives pressure from his dad to follow in his footsteps and handle snakes. Dill’s mom parrots his dad, urging Dill to go into preaching and discouraging him from applying to college. Tragic events unfold in the novel, ultimately forcing Dill to choose between what his parents want and what he wants. All the while his fierce friendships with Travis and Lydia remain the brightness in his otherwise bleak situation. I was not expecting to love this book like I did; it really stomped on my heart and felt very relatable to teenage and adult readers alike. Zentner’s character building is well done and his writing propelling. The audiobook had three narrators for the parts of Dill, Travis, and Lydia, the chapters fluctuating between the three. I like audiobooks that provide different narrators for different characters, so that was a highlight for me. I would recommend this book to someone looking for a true to life young adult read. 

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Audiobooks can be checked out from the Joplin Public Library in CD and MP3 format, as well as electronically from the digital borrowing platforms Libby and hoopla. 

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

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Mercy Thompson works as a Volkswagen mechanic in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. Mercy is an expert mechanic that does restorations on the side, owns and runs her auto shop, and is its sole employee. Mercy keeps to herself, her cat Medea her primary companion. Yet Mercy’s life is not as simple as it seems (because, of course not). Mercy is a magical being known as a walker – she can shift from human form to a coyote at will. Mercy is the only one of her kind, but she is not the only supernatural being in this first novel of the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series by Patricia Briggs.

Despite her loner tendencies Mercy has connections in the four other supernatural groups of the novel: vampires (Mercy is helping vampire Stefan fix his Scooby-Doo mystery machine van), witches (witch Elizaveta enjoys switching up the strength of her Russian accent when certain moods strike her), fae (Mercy bought her auto shop from its previous owner and her teacher, Zee, who is a gremlin), and most of all werewolves, whom Mercy was raised with. The magical beings in the novel live among the human population, some hiding what they are and all attempting to maintain copacetic lives alongside humans. While the novel does contain many supernatural elements and characters, Briggs’ unfolding of the fantasy world she has built is easy to follow with basic concepts any regular fantasy reader or new fantasy reader alike can enjoy.

The plot of the novel is set in motion when Mercy agrees to let a lone teenage werewolf that wanders into her shop work part time. Mercy soon discovers that this werewolf, Mac, is a recently turned werewolf that does not know anything about being a werewolf, and is thus dangerous to himself and those around him. When Mac is confronted at Mercy’s shop by a mysterious werewolf and human from his past, Mercy learns that Mac has just escaped from being held captive and experimented on. The experiment objective: to create and perfect a serum that can immobilize werewolves. To help Mac and put a stop to these brutal experiments Mercy enlists the help of the local werewolf alpha, Adam, who also happens to be her neighbor.

Events unfold rapidly from here, the novel is not short on action or drama. Mercy throws herself into uncovering the group behind the dangerous serum, propelled by her kind nature and her status as the only walker . When Adam is attacked and his daughter is kidnapped by the group, Mercy is forced to turn to the werewolf pack from her past, the very one that raised her. Old friends (and romances) come back into Mercy’s life as she finds herself more and more entrenched in the mystery of the werewolf serum and its potential danger to all supernatural beings. With help from her magical friends Mercy intends to save Adam’s daughter, prevent any future harm to others, and stop the use of the serum – simple, right?

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. While it is fairly tame as far as its fantasy world and plot goes, that was one of the things I ended up enjoying most. The characters are funny and interesting and there are many aspects to the novel: fantasy, mystery, action, romance, and a consistent humorous undertone, which helped lighten the mood of the story. Mercy is a cool protagonist with unique magical abilities. She’s equal parts independent, capable, and tough while simultaneously being funny and compassionate. This is the type of series where the characters remain the same, but each novel is its own independent story. The latest and fourteenth book in the series was published this year. Briggs has written a cozy urban fantasy that is perfect for the upcoming fall season.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

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Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova is a book that has stuck with me. If you are a reader you likely know what I refer to – a book that lingers after you’re finished reading, one that leaves a mark. Monstrilio is that for me. In a past book review I mentioned that I have been exploring horror fiction, a genre that until recently, I didn’t really pick up. I’ve read a handful so far this year, Monstrilio being the most recent, and I am becoming more and more content with my new reading exploration. A debut novel, Monstrilio is a horror novel with literary leanings released in 2023 by Mexico City author Córdova. I think there are a lot of ways to describe this unique novel, it runs the gamut of emotions, but in essence this novel explores extreme sorrow and immense love through the story of a boy that becomes a monster that becomes a man.

The novel is told in four parts by four different main characters. It opens with Magos on the most devastating day for a parent: she and her husband, Joseph, lose their 11 year old son, Santiago, who dies from complications of living with one lung. In her grief, Magos opens the body of her son and removes a chunk of his lung. “One believes the stupidest things in grief,” Córdova writes, and this is one of those things. Magos believes if she cares for and feeds the piece of Santiago’s lung he will come back to her.

Much to her family’s surprise (and horror), it works…in a way. From the piece of lung grows a black furred, ferociously hungry being, or monster, if you’d like. However, he is not Santiago, although he carries some likeness in addition to the lung. Magos calls him Santiago, while Joseph and Lena (a good friend to Magos and Joseph) call him Monstrilio. 

What follows are short segments moving forward in time as Monstrilio matures, learning to adapt to his circumstance and live like a human. Following Magos’ narration is Lena’s, the friend and doctor in love with Magos who often helps care for Monstrilio’s not-so-human health. Then, Joseph takes over narration. Monstrilio is now a young adult living with Magos and going by his new name, M. Joseph and Magos have very different views on who M is, and have been separated since the death of Santiago. Yet something they have in common is their fierce love for M. 

Finally, the last part of the novel is told by M. The sections leading up to M’s are a slow burn, and M’s narration was my favorite part of the book. M is trying to figure out where he belongs in the shadow of someone else, but M has the added obstacle of not being completely human. He is battling his ever-present hunger for humans, the expectations of his loved ones, his desire to understand humans, and generally fitting in a world not created for him. M is the result of a monstrous decision made by someone else, in the throes of monstrous grief, and he does not know if he is M, Santiago, Monstrilio, a combination, or someone else entirely. 

Monstrilio is a stunning novel that wraps its characters in grief, love, and the persistence of both. It examines the lasting effects of grief and how, if we let it, our own grief can affect those we hold most dear and even turn us monstrous. The novel also explores the binding results of loyalty and acceptance of those we love. Monstrilio features dark themes and is the most gory horror novel I’ve personally read (I haven’t read many). That might be an immediate “no” for some readers, and an immediate “yes” for others; either way, the part horror, part literary meditation on emotions that makes up this novel was unexpected, unsettling, and simply wonderful. Córdova comes out swinging with this debut and I am looking forward to what he releases next. While Monstrilio did make me sad, it is a book that I won’t soon forget. 

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Weyward by Emilia Hart

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Weyward is author Emilia Hart’s debut novel. A historical fiction mixed with magical realism and gothic tones, the novel became a New York Times Bestseller and won two Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Historical Fiction and Best Debut Novel for 2023. Weyward is a split narrative following the lives of three women across five centuries. After I finished reading I knew I wanted to write a book review about it as I found it to be a genuinely good, well-crafted story.

1619: Altha Weyward recently lost her mother to illness, her only family and companion. Her mother taught Altha the ways of medicine and healing, but with caution. The healing Altha came to know from her mother is that of natural remedies, herbs, mixtures procured from nature – far from the practice of placing leeches on the sick as a form of treatment, as doctors commonly did. When Altha’s mother becomes sick she makes Altha promise to keep these ways of healing, and other secrets, safe and not to draw attention to herself. Altha and her mother know their village is not a safe place for them as unmarried women that practice healing, especially with the way animals seem to respond to Altha, and the pet crow her mother keeps. Yet, Altha cannot help putting down all their secrets and her deeds in a book she locks away in her cottage. Soon after the loss of her mother Altha finds herself on trial accused of witchcraft following the death of a man in her village.

1942: Violet Ayres has always had a fascination with plants and animals, the mechanics of the natural world. Living with her father and brother on an estate in complete isolation, Violet’s closest friends are the spider that lives under her bed, her nanny, and the insects she befriends while about their estate. Violet’s mother died when she was very young and her father is an unloving guardian, more interested in keeping Violet away from society so she doesn’t “become like her mother.” When Violet meets her cousin for the first time she is fascinated by someone new, and by the way he looks at her. All her observations of insects do not help her understand her cousin or the ways of the world. When Violet suddenly finds her safe world harshly torn apart she is forced to live alone in Weyward Cottage, once owned by her mother. Violet begins to discover why she might have such an inclination for animals and the natural world, and the history of her maternal side, helped along by a crow and a book she discovers, authored by a woman named Altha.

2019: Kate Ayres takes her burner phone, the funds she has been secretly stashing away, and a suitcase and flees her husband. Her destination: the cottage her great aunt Violet Ayres left for her when she passed away, a woman she met in childhood but barely knew. But anything is better than the repetitive abuse she receives from her husband. Over the years Kate has found herself shrinking who she is, lessening her hobbies and passions, cutting out her mother and friends, all to avoid her husband’s anger. Her father died saving Kate’s life when she was a child, and since then her love for animals and nature has been silenced. Kate is alone, scared, and does not know what to do next. Yet when she arrives at Weyward Cottage she begins to find herself in Violet’s belongings, in the garden, insects, and crows, and in a book left under lock and key by a woman named Altha.

The chapters of Weyward tell Altha, Violet, and Kate’s stories bit by bit, revealing how the three women and their stories connect, even separated by centuries. All three find themselves alone and isolated following life-changing experiences. Yet, they are not truly alone, for in themselves and by way of their connection to one another they find healing and purpose. Weyward is about the resilience and strength of women, the connection that comes from sisterhood, and trusting in oneself. Witchcraft and magic are implied elements, more of supporting characters to the women’s stories rather than front and center. I found Weyward to be a magical novel, despite being able to guess what was about to happen throughout the story; Emilia Hart managed to make what could be a predictable storyline seem new. Hart’s prose runs smoothly, her character development enough to have developed characters while also leaving room for imagination, and the audio version was read by three different narrators for Altha, Violet, and Kate (which I’m a big fan of). Weyward is perfect for readers looking for some magic and female empowerment in their lives.

Note: If you are considering reading Weyward I suggest reviewing the content warnings before picking up the novel.

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Review by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

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I typically do not drift into the world of horror fiction because, in short, I’m a chicken that scares easily. Horror movies are not for me, either. I feel as if I am missing out on a chunk of literature that offers talented writers and grand stories, so to that end, I’ve been stretching my comfort zone and reading some horror fiction here and there. I say that cautiously as light horror has been my aim, I am in no means ready for something like Stephen King’s It, but perhaps one day. Something that I love about reading is the opportunity to explore and try new things, and to answer to no one but myself with what I choose.

Enter my most recent read: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. In learning more about this novel before reading it I saw some websites describing it as horror and thriller fiction, but what initially drew my attention was the interesting plot surrounding a strong theme of grief.

Our Wives Under the Sea is a split narrative, short and easy to listen to (I opted for the audio version) that follows couple Leah and Miri.

Leah and Miri used to have a happy marriage filled with fond memories that Miri reflects upon frequently. They met, fell in love, and were married. Leah’s work as a marine biologist would sometimes take her away on trips, Miri missing her dearly, but they would always come together again and pick up where they left off.

Until the last trip Leah went on: a voyage to the depths of the ocean with two other researchers to gather information, on what is not made clear, funded by a mysterious company. Alternating chapters between Miri, who is narrating in the book’s present time, and Leah, who is narrating by way of a journal kept during this research trip, it is revealed that this research trip did not go at all as Leah and Miri thought it would.

Both Leah and Miri are unreliable narrators for several reasons, but prominently because they are both struggling through grief, loss, and love. Miri is realizing that the life she once knew with Leah is no longer reality. She struggles with worry for Leah (who has come back different than she left), sorrow for herself, and questions that have no answers. Miri spends hours on the phone trying to contact the mystery agency that sent Leah and her two comrades on a submarine into the ocean, attempting to find out why the 3 week research mission turned into 6 months, and how to help Leah, who is changing more and more with each passing chapter of the book. Leah won’t respond to Miri’s questions, even in the therapist sessions they attend together, and Miri stops asking or really talking much to Leah, finding it so increasingly difficult to do so. Miri is not perfect in her care for Leah, but it is clear that Leah is all she really thinks about. Miri bounces between extreme grief and hopelessness, and glimmers of love and hope when thinking of her past life with Leah or when Leah gives just a little hint of who she used to be.

When Miri is contacted by the sister of one of Leah’s fellow researchers she becomes hopeful that perhaps she’ll finally know more about what happened to Leah and what she went through, but the answers she does receive just provides further murkiness to the situation. As the novel progresses Leah’s state declines, and Miri’s grief is palpable.

So as not to reveal too much I won’t write anything further about what happened to Leah while under the sea, or what she goes through when she returns. Armfield does an excellent job of revealing Leah’s story bit by bit to the reader in a manner that is suspenseful and at times, horrific. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and picked up this book. It was creepy and gothic enough to lend itself to the horror genre tag, but not overly so. Armfield’s writing is strong and oftentimes poetic, creating a heartbreakingly beautiful story. I was really feeling for and with the characters, and I think this novel lends itself well to different interpretations depending on the reader. This is a fluid novel that left me with more questions than answers, and it is one of my favorite reads so far this year.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

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In 2023 Joplin Public Library began a new adult program, Joplin Reads Together, the Library’s first community read. Community reads are popular at public libraries throughout the nation and offer an opportunity for a shared reading experience for members of the community. Joplin Reads Together happens in the month of April, centering around one novel with accompanying programs related to the novel, all culminating in a visit from the author of the chosen book. With Joplin Reads Together adult programming at the Library hopes to promote a sense of community, its organizations, reading, and community discussion. Joplin Reads Together is fortunate to have four local organizations as community partners: Friends of Joplin Public Library, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, MSSU George A Spiva Library, and Post Art Library. In 2023 our selected title was Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt; we spent the month of April enjoying programs related to the title and had the pleasure of hosting Shelby Van Pelt at our Library.

I am very excited to share this year’s selection: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. A historical fiction set in 1950s India, The Henna Artist is Joshi’s debut novel and the first in The Jaipur Trilogy. All of Joplin Public Library’s April adult programs are inspired by The Henna Artist, and on April 23rd Alka Joshi will visit our Library to discuss her book!

Set in the decade after India’s independence from British colonialism, The Henna Artist follows a young woman named Lakshmi as she escapes an abusive marriage and sets out to pave a new, brighter future for herself. Lakshmi moves from her small Indian village to the vibrant, bustling city of Jaipur where she begins to make a living for herself through her work as a henna artist. Henna is a traditional paste that temporarily dyes the skin. Henna designs are often elaborate and symbolize things such as good health or happy marriages.

Lakshmi does henna for the elite women of Jaipur, as her paste and artistry is one of, if not the very, best Jaipur has to offer. With this position comes both status and danger. Lakshmi spends hours with the elite, listening to their complaints about their husbands, their worries and fears, and all their drama. While this no doubt puts Lakshmi in the know and provides a more comfortable living, it also places her at a distance and in a precarious position. While Lakshmi knows and spends time with the most wealthy of Jaipur, she is not one of them herself and must be very mindful of what she says and how she carries herself for fear of losing any patronage.

Lakshmi is, for the most part, very good at this, except for the secrets she holds close. In addition to her henna Lakshmi provides additional services for her clients by way of her skills with herbs to create remedies and tea sachets that have varying purposes. Many of her henna clients purchase such sachets to help with things such as illness or conception. However, Lakshmi is hiding the fact that she also sells sachets to men in extramarital affairs or to women attempting not to conceive; some of these individuals are married to or are her clients.

Lakshmi must not only keep the secrets of her powerful clients for their safety, but also her own. When Lakshmi’s estranged husband arrives in town alongside a sister Lakshmi never knew she had her world is turned upside down and the life she has worked so hard to build is suddenly threatened. Lakshmi can’t imagine her husband is up to anything good, and her 13 year old sister Radha’s fascination with the upper class and the excitement of Jaipur can only spell trouble. Can Lakshmi hold onto the life she has worked so hard to create for herself, or will the return of her past force Lakshmi to start all over again?

Alka Joshi has created an eloquent, engaging novel that thrums with color. From the vibrancy of the characters to the immersion in Indian culture Joshi’s descriptive writing brings Lakshmi’s world to life and transports the reader to a different time and place. The representation of the upper and service caste systems as well as gender roles and what is expected of Lakshmi as a woman add to the historical aspect of the novel. Motherhood is a consistent theme in the novel and Joshi has stated in interviews that Lakshmi is based on her own mother and her experiences in India. The Henna Artist is perfect for readers that want a good story that sticks with them and that enjoy being taken to another place and learning about other time periods and cultures.

I am very excited to hear Alka Joshi speak about The Henna Artist in person and I hope that if you read this novel you’ll join the Library in welcoming her to Joplin in April. If you are interested in participating in Joplin Reads Together or want to learn more about it visit the Joplin Public Library website at joplinpubliclibrary.org/joplinreadstogether or visit the Library. Joplin Reads Together is designed for adults and a library card is not needed to participate.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

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What begins as a whirlwind romance quickly turns into a gothic fairytale in Roshani Chokshi’s haunting The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. Typically an author of middle grade and young adult books, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is Chokshi’s first adult book, a split narrative centered around three characters and their love for fairytales.

When a scholar of myth and fairytale receives an invitation to view a one-of-a-kind manuscript from a private family collection, he jumps at the opportunity. He meets with Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, the manuscript owner, but the manuscript’s rarity is eclipsed by Indigo herself. A beautiful and mysterious heiress also captivated by fairytales, Indigo is unlike anyone the man has ever met; they fall in love and plan to marry. Before they marry, however, Indigo makes the man promise to never ask about her past. The man, simply known as the bridegroom, accepts Indigo’s strange request.

Not long after they are married Indigo learns her aunt is dying and is thus called upon to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, to tend the estate. The bridegroom has never seen a manor like the House of Dreams with its eerie décor, peculiar rooms, and fading grandeur. There is also a lingering shadow of another person in the home: Indigo’s close and only childhood friend, Azure, who suddenly disappeared years prior. As the bridegroom explores the manor and finds traces of the adventures the two girls had he begins to have questions about Indigo’s past that have him unsure if he will be able to heed her request.

It is at this point in the novel the reader begins to learn more about Azure, the second narrator, who is narrating from her and Indigo’s adolescent years. Azure lives down the road from the House of Dreams with her mom and her mom’s unsettling boyfriend. She often walks by the House of Dreams, marveling at the home, the possibilities and the secrets it seems to offer. On one such walk Azure meets Indigo, who invites her inside the gates. They immediately bond over their dreams of a fairyland where they can run away and never look back (much like Indigo and the bridegroom’s first encounter). Years pass and Azure and Indigo grow up together, becoming closer and closer, spending all their time together, creating for themselves a cocoon of fairytales and friendship.

But Indigo is not the nicest person, often mean-spirited, even to Azure and the bridegroom. The split narrative reveals the parallels between Azure and the bridegroom: both of their worlds center completely around Indigo and the easy freedom of her lifestyle. Indigo is privileged, insistent upon her fairytale future and soon-to-be magical abilities, and takes charge of every situation. While it is often easy to dislike Indigo, Chokshi creates her in a way that is also complex, with an air of mystery and intrigue surrounding her. The three characters become more and more interlaced with one another due to their love of magic and fantasy, but also due to their love for Indigo. The bridegroom has to know: what happened to Azure?

At its heart The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is character driven, as much a gothic fairytale as it is a coming-of-age story focused on human nature, connections, and the darkness that comes with secrets. There is mystery, a touch of horror, some romance, and an ever present feeling of a haunting atmosphere. The novel’s characters are dedicated to fairytales while being part of one themselves. It is not always easy to guess what will happen next and I found myself both intrigued and repulsed by Indigo, just as some of the novel’s characters are. Chokshi’s writing had me easily invested in the gothic themes and characters. Both grim and entrancing, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is perfect for readers that enjoy dark fairytales.

Note: If you are interested in reading The Last Tale of the Flower Bride you might consider looking at the content warnings before picking up the novel.

Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

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