Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to work with "Unnaturals", creatures of myths and legends like the Manticore, but a mere girl could never in a society where the saints are Darwin and Tesla and anything magic is punishable by death. When a Tinker boy steals an amulet from her, Vespa finds herself embroiled in the dark underpinnings of her society and fighting for what is right.
Loved the atmospheric world and characters and the heisty elements.

A thousand times pick! An excellent graphic novel adaptation on one of the most formative books of my youth. The art is lovely and expressive; I love the story. I am eager for the next.

A fish out of water romance when modern day art restorer Emily inadvertently breaks the curse medieval knight Sir Griffin was under and the statue she was working on turns into a living person. Emily finds herself under investigation for art theft while she tries to get Griffin settled and resist the courtship of a chivalrous knight.
Enjoyable, fun and steamy with occasional references to things I remember from my last trip to Chicago.

A queer YA graphic novel retelling of Austen's Emma. Evan Horowitz (I see that nod to Clueless!) Is known for his make-up looks on social media, leading the GSA club and meddling in others' love lives - like shy new student Natalia.
This captures the spirit of the original with Evan judgmental to start until a friend pushes him to consider his impact. The first kiss is earned and sweet, but I would have liked a bit longer to enjoy them together.

Ch.8
Catherine sits abandoned by Isabella and her brother waiting for John Thorpe to come claim his dance (which he is far less eager to do now that the opportunity is present) when she sees Mr. Tilney with his sister (whom she does NOT mistake for his wife).

Despite this, she cannot dance with him as stupid John Thorpe keeps getting in the way and Isabella is too distracted making sure she is the center of attention to commiserate.

Ch.7
The girls are nearly run down by Isabella's brother John who is out driving with Catherine's brother James (who is googly-eyed over Isabella).

John is an ill-mannered fellow and will NOT stop going on about his horse despite no encouragement and then proceeds to rate the attractiveness of every woman passing.

But he insists Catherine is the most charming ever, so she is too easily flattered to think as ill of him as she ought.

Ch.6
Oh, Isabella - the all too common manipulative attention-seeking Mean Girl where everything she says is calibrated for her audience to provide her with the correct reaction (usually some sort of fawning - oh Isabella, you are just too good!)

Then Catherine is forced to report on the movements of two young men whose staring was "bothering" Isabella before they essentially chase them down the street to capture their attention. Shades of Lydia!

Ch.5
Isabella and Catherine are soon inseparable - when they cannot be out scouting for Tilney, they stay in and read novels.

But the chapter is sidetracked by a spirited (and lengthy) preemptive defense of novels by the author/narrator against those that essentially call them trashy.

"If the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard?"

#Pemberlittens
#JaneAustenThenandNow

Ch.4
Catherine is super-excited to see Tilney again, but nope. Just the usual Mrs. Allen wishing she had acquaintance and sighing loudly without doing anything about it. But wait! An old schoolmate appears to drone on endlessly bragging about her children and their accomplishments (even the narrator digs at how she never shuts up...)

The eldest daughter, Isabella, basically makes a pet of Catherine and enjoys being admired by her new friend.

Ch.3
Gentle Reader, Tilney has been spotted! He is funny and a little silly poking fun at "accepted conversation". I should find myself very charmed by a Mr. Tilney and his amusing nonsense. Not to mention, he knows his muslins!

With Tilney around, Catherine's second ball in Bath is much more fun than the first - and she gets to dance!

#Pemberlittens
#JaneAustenThenandNow
#TalkTilneyToMe

Ch.2
Mrs. Allen, Catherine's chaperone in Bath, is determined to be in fashion, so Catherine looks her best when she attends her first ball at the Upper Rooms (above). Mrs. Allen is significantly less diligent when it comes to making introductions that might allow Catherine to dance (or even speak to someone), so she is a bit bored and uncomfortable until she overhears 2 young men call her pretty. At which point the evening is redeemed.

"...if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad..."

#Pemberlittens
#JaneAustenThenandNow

Ch.1
In which our heroine is described as altogether ordinary: sometimes inattentive to her schooling, a bit rowdy but kind. As she grows into a young lady, she reads a bunch of fun romantic novels and yearns for an exciting adventure of her own - a feeling I remember well.

I love the knowing tongue-in-cheek narration that affectionately makes fun of her youthful silliness and the overwrought tone of the stories Catherine devours.

April wrap-up! A lot of good reads this month.

A romantic adventure. Margot impulsively decides to join a school archaeology trip to Pompeii to seek the legendary Vase of Venus Aurelia in hopes of winning back her father's love. She ends up with the (often reluctant) help of 1930s teen adventurer Van Keane who was transformed into stone during his attempt and whose journal Margot follows.

I liked the Indiana Jones/The Mummy adventure aspect but found the romantic side of things a bit flat.

A short children's book about the life and career of Bass Reeves, a man born into slavery who served a long time as a deputy marshal hunting down criminals in Indian Territory. It has all the adventurous hallmarks of Western fiction with an emphasis on Bass Reeves upstanding moral character.

I find myself interested in learning more about him.

A queer retelling of Emma with a Bridgerton flair and solid historical references (Dido Belle, Anne Lister). Ellie is very close to her neighbor Georgiana (who prefers to dress in a masculine style and is known as George). We also look at her cousin Charlotte and how differently she is treated due to her mixed race heritage.
I enjoyed this, the fashions, the depictions of beautiful historical spaces (Vauxhall Gardens and Temple of the Muses).

A take on P&P that involves taking the public domain original text and adding to it. I loved a lot of the artwork and often clever changes to make things futuristic (as well as making Lydia and Mary more tolerable).

I was less sure about some of the PoV changes, and I struggled with some of the historic tone and original sensibilities juxtaposed against the space setting and more modern-sounding additions, which was sometimes a bit jarring.

An intelligent girl who read more than she ought to...

I cannot relate...I did *not* have biweekly proposals. But that was no doubt due to the fashion.

Ch.7/8
In which Jane's health is sacrificed with great delight by her mother in a scheme to have her stay overnight at the Bingleys. It succeeds only too well and Jane falls very ill from being drenched and must stay to recover.

Lizzy walks over through the mud to see her and earns the admiration of Darcy and the scorn of the Mean Girl sisters. Jealous and catty Caroline does everything but pee on Darcy to mark her territory and put Lizzy down.

Ch.5/6

Darcy is rethinking his declaration that Lizzy is not handsome enough to tempt him. He is increasingly charmed by her eyes, her intelligence, and her playfulness.
While trying to work up the nerve to speak to her, he awkwardly lurks around her conversations with others.
When Caroline Bingley sidles over to gossip snidely about the assembled company, she finds Darcy in a bit of a reverie on Lizzy's eyes. She does not take it well...

Ch.3/4
"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hope of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained."

Bingley comes to the ball, handsome, sweet and determined to be pleased (especially by Jane), bringing his sisters, and his friend, Darcy, who are none of these things (except handsome in Darcy's case - but even that is marred by his snobby manner). Awkward Darcy even insults Lizzy by refusing to dance with her.

The first two chapters are quite witty - from the iconic first line setting the playful tone to Mr. Bennet, who *does* seem to delight in vexing his wife.

He pretends not to have any interest in meeting the single, wealthy young newcomer to the area despite having 5 daughters of marriageable age.

His teasing amuses me (particularly when he tells his wife to send the girls alone as she is as pretty as any of them and Bingley may like her best!)

Ch. 29/30

Willoughby finally replies, but such with a disingenuous and insincere letter that he is clearly "deep in hardened villainy" (see above for villainy). He claims she must have mistaken him. She did NOT, sir! Even the author is moved to overwrought adjectives by his gaslighting nonsense. Unprincipled! Depraved!

Marianne in the throes of her self-absorbed misery lashes out at Elinor as she apparently now has a monopoly on unhappiness.

Ch. 27/28 - Berkeley St

Col. Brandon comes to visit daily "to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor", but Marianne is in a tizzy waiting for Willoughby and refusing to leave the house, even for common courtesy, but it makes no difference, as Willoughby is determinedly avoiding her!

When she does finally encounter him at a ball, he is distant and ignores all references to her dreadfully improper correspondence to him. She is very publicly wretched.

Chapters 23-26
Lucy Steele is determined to stake her claim on Edward. Elinor is convinced that Edward cannot possibly be in love with her, but she somehow is not upset with HIM for leading both of them on.

Marianne and Elinor then go to London with Mrs. Jennings (suddenly less intolerable to Marianne when she can be used to track down Willoughby...). Marianne sends him a note (so forward!) but the visitor at their door is Col Brandon instead.

Lucy works at the Columbus zoo with a troop of gorillas. She is incredibly excited to see them featured on a docuseries hosted by Kai Bridges, the (Steve Irwin-esque) son of her primatologist idol. But her first meeting with Kai doesn't go so well...

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

Chapters 20-22

No sooner have the Palmers left (her very silly, him very dour), then the Misses Steele come to visit Barton. They get into Lady Middleton's good graces by indulging and cosseting her already spoiled children. Elinor has quite a sassy line in response to Lucy Steele's "horror" at quiet, well-behaved children:

"I confess that while I am at Barton Park, I never think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence."

Chapters 17-19

Edward comes to visit, and Elinor has hope of the renewal of their quiet affection. But mostly Edward mopes about and is distant. There is a particularly vexing speech about how he wanted to do something useful with his life, but nobody presented him with the exact right thing, so now he is idle and useless. Woe is Edward!

#JaneAustenThenandNow
#Pemberlittens
@Crinoline_Laphroaig

Chapters 9-16 (catch-up)

Marianne takes a tumble down a hill and sprains her ankle, but is rescued most dashingly by a handsome young man. They are soon fully enamored of one another (and annoying with their carelessness for others, propriety or, indeed, reality, not to mention their insistence on being snotty about everyone).

Willoughby leaves with no official relationship status and an uncertain return, occasioning a great deal of wallowing.

"Oh my God, Ryder, henchman!" I cry, pointing at the terrifying man who just jumped out from behind a tree. "Henchman!"
The henchman looks at me in confusion. "No. Malcolm."
"The henchman's name is Malcolm!" I tell Ryder, who's standing right next to me and therefore doesn't actually require a play-by-play of the situation. "Malcolm has a gun!"

I snort-laughed.

My first read. I am catching up, read Chapters 1-8.

Marianne is So Much - all about the Depths of Every Feeling and Moderation is akin to Death! Marianne is Victorian Capitalization and many exclamation points. She both reminds me of myself as a teenager and would drive me absolutely bonkers in real life.

Not much to say yet about the more practical, grew up too soon Elinor. But I suspect I will like her very much.

Bees," I say to Tudie, standing slowly to give her cover.
"Bees?" she repeats. Then she gets it. "Oh, bees!" She throws the spell and it hits the guffawing bandit right in the face.
"My eyes!" he starts screaming. "I'm not supposed to get bees in them!"

I have to say, this meta fantasy/fairy tale is the right kind of absurd fun (so far). Reminds me a bit of The Tales of Pell in tone.

With Empress Sisi of Austria-Hungary at the restful Gödöllő Palace, enjoying time away from the restrictions of the Imperial court in Vienna (and being fussed over by dashing romantic rivals).

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

Ashton Rasputin Hayes, we take care of our elders in this family. We do not just ship them off to another dimension. If she wants to slam my door and kill every plant I bring into this room, that's her prerogative."

Marlowe rebuking Ash for suggesting they exorcise the ghost of her Meemaw.

"Good?" Ash asks, eyeing my cup.
"Brain-altering good," I say. "Seriously. There's an amino acid called tryptophan, which is found in chocolate, and it's the precursor for serotonin." He smirks as I take another gulp. "Chocolate wants us to be happy. How can we not adore a food that cares so much about our well-being?"

"But let's be honest, shall we? When adults tell a child or a teenager that they're precocious, what they're really saying is, 'Please don't say that aloud.'"

The accuracy...

Also stationed at Arlington Hall, Virginia during WWII learning to break codes

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

Back in Rennedawn, serving as apprentice to The Villain and attempting to fulfill or thwart an age old prophecy (and maybe smooch the Villain).

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

Whisked off to Jakarta, Indonesia with Sharlot to escape an unsuitable relationship by spending the summer with family. Of course, family catfished the heir to the 2nd largest fortune in Indonesia and now the media think Sharlot is dating George Clooney Tanuwijaya...

#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

I'm at a manor house in the 1,000 Islands that has just been opened to the public after having been closed up when tragedy struck in 1932...
I expect new tour guide Marlowe will help uncover the mystery.

#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

Journalist Jack McEvoy is being downsized. Determined to go out in a Pulitzer-winning blaze of glory, he engages with a murder case to write something sensational to prove his worth. But when he finds himself on a serial killer's radar, only the actions of FBI profiler (and ex-flame) Rachel Walling save him from the killer's trap.

Investigation is pacy, but the reader knows too much too early, but also not enough about the killer to satisfy me.

Romantic suspense with a vicious serial killer abducting young women, a newly minted Lieutenant who gets mad every time the beautiful FBI profiler opens her mouth and an unfortunate approach to ethics. Add a hefty sprinkling of Google Translate phrases from Italian and Irish; bro-jokes and commitment-phobia; and whiplash from chapters of trauma and tears to hanky-panky. I think I sprained my eyes rolling them so hard.
Not for me.

A bookish squire, a blowhard knight, a cursed town beset by calamities and a dragon! Inspired by Wart and Sir Kay from Sword in the Stone, our protagonist squire sets out to solve the village's problems with research, observation and critical thinking.
Super charming with a wise-cracking dragon. Looking forward to more volumes!

#WhereAreYouMonday
@Cupcake12

In a library in a small town in Washington state where part-timer Chloe has just found a bootleg copy of Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer with flirtatious conversations in the margins...

A teen retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Prickly Vi Reyes masquerades as a boy on an Arthurian inspired MMORPG to avoid bullying. Jack "Duke" Orsino is football royalty who starts playing the game after a season-ending injury.
We have a GoT style TV show, a sff/gaming convention, tabletop D&D, feminism, computer gaming and both characters growing in a realistic way.
I really liked all the characters (with a few obvious exceptions).

A nameless young woman gets a job at the Ministry minding "expats" from other times and helping them assimilate. Hers is Lt. Graham Gore, lost during Franklin's lost expedition seeking the Northwest Passage.
The narrative touches on colonialism, bureaucracy, climate change. But then we got sex scenes which didn't work for me, and I went from very invested to having lost almost all interest.
And Why did we have the scenes from the Terror at all?

A fun children's graphic novel. Mulan is called to the palace to help protect the Emperor who finds himself in danger. She struggles to fit in at court (etiquette is hard), but is helped by Mushu, her grandmother and Li Shang.
I enjoyed the storyline, and the characters all looked "right" to me except for Mulan herself. But the interstitial artwork is lovely watercolors.
Fun and fitting the character.

A Gothic horror/thriller with dual timelines. In the present Shea Collins is stuck in a dead end life due to past trauma, but spends her leisure hours writing and managing her true crime blog. And one day she meets a famous (acquitted) suspect in some brutal local murders. St. James excels at creepy paranormal that seems like it could be real. I made the mistake of reading at night during a storm...Good Book, Bad Decision

Essentially a young Bletchley Circle set during the war and in America with a sweet sapphic love story. We have a team of 4, including a clever maid masquerading as her employer and a Black codebreaker destined to be a computer at NASA. Important war work and crimes connected in ways only the girls see.
Plenty of catnip for me!