5 posts!

The Cypress Maz by Fiona Valpy

Love and loss, war and peace. We start in 2015 with Tess, a British photographer, who travels to Tuscany to escape the loss of her spouse. There she meets Beatrice, an elderly woman that was the property caretaker of the Villa Tess traveled to. Tess, still haunted by the ghost of her spouse, helps Beatrice around the villa. Meanwhile, Beatrice relays the story of how she came to Tuscany and this villa, and what it was like to live in Nazi controlled Italy. She talks about the Jewish boy that they kept hidden from Nazi sympathizers. And when they finally get the opportunity to secret him out of Italy there was a tragic accident and he went missing. Beatrice then spent decades looking for him. Hiring investigators trying to find him. Until one morning they get the news they were looking for. But it changed the future of Beatrice and Tess.

Oh my goodness. I absolutely loved this book. The things Tess went through while her spouse was sick and suffering and what an impact it had on her when he passed away. I could relate to Tess on such a personal level. I could only imagine what it would be like if my husband passed away. So her feelings and talking to her husband's ghost was so genuine.

Beatrice's story of life, love, and loss was so emotional. Her recounting of World War II was a part of history that I was unaware of. I know who Mousseline was, but I didn't know how much of a part he played in the war.

This story was very well written and the characters so likeable. You feel what they feel and hope beyond hope that things turn out their way in the end. This has been the best book I've read this year.

C - 10 / 10 A - 10 / 10 W - 9 / 10 P - 9 / 10 I - 10 / 10 L - 9 / 10 E - 10 / 10

Total: 67 / 7 = 9.57

Virgins by Diana Gabaldon

Virgins is a prequel novel in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. While I have enjoyed the first three books of the series, I wasn't too keen on this novella. In this prequel, we meet Jamie after he'd been beaten and tortured by Captain Randall. He and his good friend, Ian, find themselves in the company of mercenaries in France.

They find themselves in a brothel and then it snowballs from there. I felt the whole story was about them trying to figure out if they should sleep with prostitutes. I was not at all into this story and I don't think it added to the series at all.

C - 8 / 10 A - 6 / 10 W - 6 / 10 P - 4 / 10 I - 5 / 10 L - 6 / 10 E - 6 / 10

Total: 41 / 7 = 5.85

Gideon the Ninth

Gideon the Ninth is the first book in the Locked Tomb Trilogy by Tamsyn Muir. I would classify this genre as Science Fantasy with a heavy Dark Academia feel. It's sci-fi meets fantasy.

We meet Gideon trying to escape life long servitude of the Ninth House when the house Heir, Harrowhark, intervenes and proposes a different choice for Gideon. Stand in as her Cavalier while Harrow attempts to gain Lyctorhood: an esteemed standing among the nine houses that grants immortality.

They arrive at Caanan House where hey meet the heirs and their cavaliers of the other houses. Things start turning when the bodies of the Fifth house heir and her cavalier. Gideon and Harrow work to discover what or who is murdering the houses' heirs.

I really loved the character growth in this book, hence the 9 for the characters. And while the atmosphere in Canaan House was very interesting, we learn nothing of the other houses home planets. I gave Atmosphere a 9, though, as Caanan House was intriguing and creepy at the same time.

I was not a fan of the writing style. Mainly because of the use of modern colloquialisms. Referring to something as 'cool' or when someone accused her twin as being 'hangry'. I gave the writing style a 5.

The plot made up for the writing style. I was extremely surprised by the ending and even by some of the events that occurred in the book. So the plot and intrigue both received a 9.

As far as logic, I did give this a 7 for the main reason that I didn't understand some of the relationship issues between the different houses. I was never sure why it seemed everyone hated everyone else.

But overall I very much enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to reading the second book, Harrow the Ninth.

C - 9 / 10 A - 9 / 10 W - 5 / 10 P - 8 / 10 I - 9 / 10 L - 7 / 10 E - 8 / 10

Total: 55/7= 7.85 Four Stars.

How I Rate Books

I use a method called the CAWPILE rating system. Each letter stands for the following:

C - Characters (development and relationships) A - Atmosphere (world building) W - Writing Style P - Plot I - Intrigue (did it keep my attention) L - Logic (does the world/characters behave logically) E - Enjoyment

Each 'letter' receives a rating from 0-10, based on your opinion of each.

0-3 Very Poor 4-6 Mediocre 7-9 Really good 10 Outstanding

Then you add up each score and then divide by 7. For example:

C - 8 A - 7 W - 8 P - 6 I - 6 L - 8 E - 7 Total: 50 50 / 7 = 7.14 (rounded)

Then I use a guide to calculate how many stars.

0 - 2.2 One Star 2.3 - 4.5 Two Stars 4.6 - 6.9 Three Stars 7 - 8.9 Four Stars 9 - 10 Five Stars

My Reading Agenda

Currently reading:

A Girl From Nowhere by James Maxwell

Upcoming books for May:

Virgin by Diana Bagaldon (finished 5/03/2024) The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy (finished 05/06/2024 The Martian by Andy Weird The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis Dune by Frank Herbert The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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