Welcome back book lovers! I’m here with your Three to Read for this week. We’ve got queer romance, racial drama, and graphic fantasy fare. Let’s dig in!
Hot Pick
Red Rising: Sons of ares, vol 2: wrath
By Pierce Brown
Synopsis:
The world of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising expands further in the next installment of the Sons of Ares storyline. Fitchner’s quest for revenge continues as he and the other Sons of Ares seek out the Golds who have wronged his family. But actions come with repercussions and an elaborate game of cat and mouse is on. A battle of Gold versus Gold erupts further into more than acts of vengeance and becomes the seed of a revolution.
Why?
This is the second installment of the Sons of Ares prequel series, and is a thrilling read from start to finish. The novel gives a good insight into the origins of the Sons and has some punchy artwork to go along with it. The gloomy colors set the tone for the storyline. It serves as an excellent way to get more insight into the characters and their backgrounds, letting you understand their actions in the original series. The call-forwards to these characters and their positions in later parts of the novels are noticed by many eagle-eyed readers and leave an interesting trail of breadcrumbs.
Coffee shop read
Stormsong
by C.L. Polk
Synopsis:
After spinning an enthralling world in Witchmark, praised as a “can’t-miss debut” by Booklist, and as “thoroughly charming and deftly paced” by the New York Times, C. L. Polk continues the story in Stormsong. Magical cabals, otherworldly avengers, and impossible love affairs conspire to create a book that refuses to be put down.
Dame Grace Hensley helped her brother Miles undo the atrocity that stained her nation, but now she has to deal with the consequences. With the power out in the dead of winter and an uncontrollable sequence of winter storms on the horizon, Aeland faces disaster. Grace has the vision to guide her parents to safety, but a hostile queen and a ring of rogue mages stand in the way of her plans. There’s revolution in the air, and any spark could light the powder. What’s worse, upstart photojournalist Avia Jessup draws ever closer to secrets that could topple the nation, and closer to Grace’s heart.
Why?
This sequel is an un-put-downable installment of the series and is laced with romance, intrigue and drama. There is plenty to keep the reader guessing, right through to the end. The historical aspect of the novel, along with it’s lesbian representation, means that it surpasses any niche that would try and contain it, breaking free of any genre-based constraints. The tension in the book is both romantic and political, set in a hostile environment and climate. It sizzles with an electric dramatic undercurrent and stays with the reader long after they have put it down.
Dark horse
No truth left to tell
by Michael McAuliffe
Synopsis:
February 1994—Lynwood, Louisiana: Flaming crosses light up the night and terrorize the southern town. The resurgent Klan wants a new race war, and they’ll start it here. As civil rights prosecutor Adrien Rush is about to discover, the ugly roots of the past run deep in Lynwood.
For Nettie Wynn, a victim of the cross burnings and lifelong resident of the town’s segregated neighborhood, the hate crimes summon frightful memories of her youth, when she witnessed white townspeople lynch a black man. Her granddaughter Nicole DuBose, a successful journalist in New York City, returns to Lynwood to care for her grandmother. Adrien Rush arrives from DC and investigates the crimes with Lee Mercer, a seasoned local FBI special agent. Their partnership is tested as they clash over how far to go to catch the racists before the violence escalates. Rush’s role in the case becomes even more complicated after he falls for DuBose. When crucial evidence becomes compromised, threatening to upend what should be a celebrated conviction—the lines between right and wrong, black and white, collide with deadly consequences.
Why?
This novel presents the reader with those both innocent and guilty, giving a broad overview of each side of the story. It explores the power play between bigotry and tolerance that still stands in the new south. The insight into the judicial system gives the story a very real feel, as the reader gets to consider truth and lies in modern America. The pursuit of justice, spearheaded by prosecutor Adrian Rush, shows the corruption and hatred that runs deep in the history of America’s south. No Truth Left to Tell is a smart legal thriller that pulls readers into a compelling courtroom drama and an illusive search for justice in a troubled community.
There you have it! Our Three to Read this week are not to be missed. Let us know if you get to read any (bonus points if you do all three!)
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