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ladybusiness2018-01-31 08:31 am
bookgazing) wrote in ladybusiness2018-01-31 08:31 am
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Old Favourites - A Bookish List
As part of Smugglivus 2017, Renay wrote a post called My Favourite Books From Previous Years that aimed to 'spread the bookish joy around a bit to books that have fallen from the spotlight'. At the end, she called upon other readers to make their own lists. This list is my response because who doesn't love book lists?
10 Pre-2017 Books That Deserve Some Love
The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman
The Country of Ice Cream Star made the longlist for the Women's Prize in 2015 but then it, and its author, seemed to drop out of the public eye. Sandra Newman's huge novel is marketed more as a lit-fic book, but I swear it's perfect for genre fans. It's certainly challenging as it's an epic apocalyptic story written entirely in a slang influenced by Elizabethan English and the French language. Trust me though, all the effort you have to put into parsing the language is so worth it. The story follows Ice Cream Star as she takes over her brother's gang, and tries to find a cure for a plague that kills people before they can even turn twenty. Ice Cream Star is a fascinating, scrappy, ruthless, flawed protagonist, and she's the force that compels everyone in the book to keep getting up every time they're brutally knocked down. I love her, and I wish more people would make her acquaintance.
The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall
This is one of my favourite dystopian stories about how gender comes into play during a world's collapse. After being subjected to reproductive control, and uncovering an ugly, patriarchal side to her husband, the narrator runs away to find the fabled Carhullan Army; a group of women who live independently in the hills. What she finds there is not exactly a utopia, but it is a honest, hardworking society of women who stand in stark opposition to the current occupying force. One for readers who have worked their way through The Handmaid's Tale and The Power.
Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace
The third and final dystopian read on my list takes the traditional 'travelling quest' structure seen in many dystopian novels, and throws an extra dash of originality into the mix by having its heroine, Archivist Wasp, travel with a ghost warrior on a journey to the underworld. Wasp, a girl who has had to kill to hold onto her own life, now seeks knowledge that will allow her to push back against the controlling priest who rules her world. This is an ethereal story, and reminds me in bits and pieces of The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe (epic trip through a weird fantasy land) and Ninefox Gambit (the main character works with the unreliable ghost of a soldier). The ending, and the structure, of Wasp's fantasy world provides plenty of subtle background feminist commentary on how this dystopia has been structured by men. So again, another good one for fans of The Handmaid's Tale.
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Let's move on from apocalypses to something a little quieter now. Signal to Noise is the story of three sort-of friends growing up in 1980s Mexico City who very literally discover the magic of music. I can't even remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did because Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books are now always on my auto-buy list. The author had a new book out this year called The Beautiful Ones which I loved, but this story of small scale magic, and betrayal, set among the tricky coming of age of an awkward young girl deserves to be remembered too.
Moonshine by Alaya Dawn Johnson
While The Summer Prince earned itself a lot of attention, my favourite book by Alaya Dawn Johnson seems to have faded into the background a little bit. If you love vampire stories but you think the genre is played out you have GOT to read the 1920s adventures of Zephyr Hollis; feminist, cyclist, and vampire sympathiser. (Also, if you genuinely think vampire stories are played out please see me in the comments because I have some suggestions for further reading).
Zephyr, daughter of a famous vampire hunting family, works tirelessly for the good of society in a 1920s where vampirism is legal, and controlled, but still seen as seedy and unfortunate. Having largely cut ties with her family, and now living hand to mouth, Zephyr cycles around New York City trying to change the world through feminist activism, and education. In the midst of all her other activities, she gets caught up in a murky plot to take down a vampire mob boss, uncovers the origins of a dangerous drug, and ends up caring for a potentially lethal child vampire. All in a day's work for the lady who is unwillingly being branded 'the vampire suffragette'.
Zephyr is a joy to follow through the city, and the 1920s setting really makes this vampire tale stand out, as do Zephyr's important friendships with other women, including her roommate Aileen. Moonshine is an original addition to the vampire subgenre, and a great pick for any Iron Cast fans out there.
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi
Ascension provided something of a shot in the arm for SFF by being a big time space adventure about a confident, black female engineer working with a chronic illness (also that cover made a big impact). Alana Quick is 'the best damned sky surgeon in Heliodor City', and she is quick to stow away on a visiting spaceship even if she doesn't have enough medicine to see her through a trip across the galaxy. Aboard The Tangled Axon she meets Captain Tev; a commanding blonde woman she just can't resist. And she starts to work out a place for herself among the ship's very interesting crew. All the while, The Tangled Axon is searching for Alana's sister, Nova, a woman Alana is less than keen to meet again. Ascension is a fun time full of adventure, peril, polyamorous relationships, and a cool cast of characters. It also works well as a standalone, despite being part of a planned series which never came to fruition.
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach
For more big, bolshy, fun adventures in space I highly recommend Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach which follows the adventures of Devi Morris; career mercenary. Devi signs on to work security on a cursed and shady ship, the appropriately named Glorious Fool, all with the intention of pushing her career to new heights. Onboard she finds a difficult crew, an attractive bartender, and way too many secrets. This is science fiction with both conspiracy and romance at its heart.
Black Wolves by Kate Elliott
Black Wolves is a probably my favourite Kate Elliott book so far, and I am patiently (hahaha) waiting for the sequel. It follows on from Elliott's earlier Crossroad books but I think it reads perfectly well as the start of a new series (so far I've only read one of the original Crossroads books). Captain Kellas returns to work with the royal family he "failed" twenty years ago, but all is not as it seems. Black Wolves is full of royal plots, revolution, arranged marriages, political treachery, and OH YEAH giant eagles of justice. Epic fantasy fans need to check this out!
The Goddess War trilogy by Kendare Blake
Three books in one slot - sneaky, sneaky! I had to pick the whole Goddess War trilogy though because personally I think this series really hits its stride after the first book. I realise that is not exactly a ringing endorsement. Still, there it is. The first book reads like a very traditional type of mainstream YA fantasy, and everything gets way more interesting after something very spoilery happens to one of the main characters at the end of the first book. Anyway, putting that aside for a moment, these books are about the return of the Ancient Greek gods and heroes to our modern world, and I love them. The gods are out for themselves (except when they're not), there are a ton of female characters who get to have complicated feelings at each other, and the lots of godly family drama. This series made me a confirmed Kendare Blake fan. If you're curious, maybe try one of the free online shorts linked to the series first because they give a better flavour of this series than the first book does.
Fly By Night by Francis Hardinge
I've got to mention Fly By Night before I close out this list. Francis Hardinge is becoming deservingly well-known thanks to the success of The Lie Tree but I think my favourite of her books will always be Fly By Night in which a goose, a young girl, and a con-artist unwillingly partner up, and end up in the midst of a devilish political storm. The irascible Mosca Mye is the star of this book, but its language, its worldbuilding, and its political commentary are fantastic as well. It's a smart, funny book that I think everyone should dive on.
Some of the books on Renay's list (The Killing Moon, Zoo City, and Sorcerer to the Crown) could easily have made my list as well but I wanted to pick 10 distinct titles to help spread the book love around a little bit more. If you enjoy this list, and Renay's list, consider making your own list of older titles you've loved, and maybe drop a link to it in the comments. Seriously, lists are the best.
10 Pre-2017 Books That Deserve Some Love
The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman
The Country of Ice Cream Star made the longlist for the Women's Prize in 2015 but then it, and its author, seemed to drop out of the public eye. Sandra Newman's huge novel is marketed more as a lit-fic book, but I swear it's perfect for genre fans. It's certainly challenging as it's an epic apocalyptic story written entirely in a slang influenced by Elizabethan English and the French language. Trust me though, all the effort you have to put into parsing the language is so worth it. The story follows Ice Cream Star as she takes over her brother's gang, and tries to find a cure for a plague that kills people before they can even turn twenty. Ice Cream Star is a fascinating, scrappy, ruthless, flawed protagonist, and she's the force that compels everyone in the book to keep getting up every time they're brutally knocked down. I love her, and I wish more people would make her acquaintance.
The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall
This is one of my favourite dystopian stories about how gender comes into play during a world's collapse. After being subjected to reproductive control, and uncovering an ugly, patriarchal side to her husband, the narrator runs away to find the fabled Carhullan Army; a group of women who live independently in the hills. What she finds there is not exactly a utopia, but it is a honest, hardworking society of women who stand in stark opposition to the current occupying force. One for readers who have worked their way through The Handmaid's Tale and The Power.
Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace
The third and final dystopian read on my list takes the traditional 'travelling quest' structure seen in many dystopian novels, and throws an extra dash of originality into the mix by having its heroine, Archivist Wasp, travel with a ghost warrior on a journey to the underworld. Wasp, a girl who has had to kill to hold onto her own life, now seeks knowledge that will allow her to push back against the controlling priest who rules her world. This is an ethereal story, and reminds me in bits and pieces of The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe (epic trip through a weird fantasy land) and Ninefox Gambit (the main character works with the unreliable ghost of a soldier). The ending, and the structure, of Wasp's fantasy world provides plenty of subtle background feminist commentary on how this dystopia has been structured by men. So again, another good one for fans of The Handmaid's Tale.
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Let's move on from apocalypses to something a little quieter now. Signal to Noise is the story of three sort-of friends growing up in 1980s Mexico City who very literally discover the magic of music. I can't even remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did because Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books are now always on my auto-buy list. The author had a new book out this year called The Beautiful Ones which I loved, but this story of small scale magic, and betrayal, set among the tricky coming of age of an awkward young girl deserves to be remembered too.
Moonshine by Alaya Dawn Johnson
While The Summer Prince earned itself a lot of attention, my favourite book by Alaya Dawn Johnson seems to have faded into the background a little bit. If you love vampire stories but you think the genre is played out you have GOT to read the 1920s adventures of Zephyr Hollis; feminist, cyclist, and vampire sympathiser. (Also, if you genuinely think vampire stories are played out please see me in the comments because I have some suggestions for further reading).
Zephyr, daughter of a famous vampire hunting family, works tirelessly for the good of society in a 1920s where vampirism is legal, and controlled, but still seen as seedy and unfortunate. Having largely cut ties with her family, and now living hand to mouth, Zephyr cycles around New York City trying to change the world through feminist activism, and education. In the midst of all her other activities, she gets caught up in a murky plot to take down a vampire mob boss, uncovers the origins of a dangerous drug, and ends up caring for a potentially lethal child vampire. All in a day's work for the lady who is unwillingly being branded 'the vampire suffragette'.
Zephyr is a joy to follow through the city, and the 1920s setting really makes this vampire tale stand out, as do Zephyr's important friendships with other women, including her roommate Aileen. Moonshine is an original addition to the vampire subgenre, and a great pick for any Iron Cast fans out there.
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi
Ascension provided something of a shot in the arm for SFF by being a big time space adventure about a confident, black female engineer working with a chronic illness (also that cover made a big impact). Alana Quick is 'the best damned sky surgeon in Heliodor City', and she is quick to stow away on a visiting spaceship even if she doesn't have enough medicine to see her through a trip across the galaxy. Aboard The Tangled Axon she meets Captain Tev; a commanding blonde woman she just can't resist. And she starts to work out a place for herself among the ship's very interesting crew. All the while, The Tangled Axon is searching for Alana's sister, Nova, a woman Alana is less than keen to meet again. Ascension is a fun time full of adventure, peril, polyamorous relationships, and a cool cast of characters. It also works well as a standalone, despite being part of a planned series which never came to fruition.
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach
For more big, bolshy, fun adventures in space I highly recommend Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach which follows the adventures of Devi Morris; career mercenary. Devi signs on to work security on a cursed and shady ship, the appropriately named Glorious Fool, all with the intention of pushing her career to new heights. Onboard she finds a difficult crew, an attractive bartender, and way too many secrets. This is science fiction with both conspiracy and romance at its heart.
Black Wolves by Kate Elliott
Black Wolves is a probably my favourite Kate Elliott book so far, and I am patiently (hahaha) waiting for the sequel. It follows on from Elliott's earlier Crossroad books but I think it reads perfectly well as the start of a new series (so far I've only read one of the original Crossroads books). Captain Kellas returns to work with the royal family he "failed" twenty years ago, but all is not as it seems. Black Wolves is full of royal plots, revolution, arranged marriages, political treachery, and OH YEAH giant eagles of justice. Epic fantasy fans need to check this out!
The Goddess War trilogy by Kendare Blake
Three books in one slot - sneaky, sneaky! I had to pick the whole Goddess War trilogy though because personally I think this series really hits its stride after the first book. I realise that is not exactly a ringing endorsement. Still, there it is. The first book reads like a very traditional type of mainstream YA fantasy, and everything gets way more interesting after something very spoilery happens to one of the main characters at the end of the first book. Anyway, putting that aside for a moment, these books are about the return of the Ancient Greek gods and heroes to our modern world, and I love them. The gods are out for themselves (except when they're not), there are a ton of female characters who get to have complicated feelings at each other, and the lots of godly family drama. This series made me a confirmed Kendare Blake fan. If you're curious, maybe try one of the free online shorts linked to the series first because they give a better flavour of this series than the first book does.
Fly By Night by Francis Hardinge
I've got to mention Fly By Night before I close out this list. Francis Hardinge is becoming deservingly well-known thanks to the success of The Lie Tree but I think my favourite of her books will always be Fly By Night in which a goose, a young girl, and a con-artist unwillingly partner up, and end up in the midst of a devilish political storm. The irascible Mosca Mye is the star of this book, but its language, its worldbuilding, and its political commentary are fantastic as well. It's a smart, funny book that I think everyone should dive on.
Some of the books on Renay's list (The Killing Moon, Zoo City, and Sorcerer to the Crown) could easily have made my list as well but I wanted to pick 10 distinct titles to help spread the book love around a little bit more. If you enjoy this list, and Renay's list, consider making your own list of older titles you've loved, and maybe drop a link to it in the comments. Seriously, lists are the best.