Review of The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman

The subtitle of this book says it all: A Story of Friars, Flirtation and Foul Play. The author of this book wrote one of my favorite fantasy series, Stravaganza. In Stravaganza, part of the story is set in modern-day London, and the other part in a fictionalized version of 14th century Venice. In The Falconer's Knot, Hoffman uses her extensive knowledge of history to set the entire tale in medieval Italy. I wasn't sure I would enjoy a historical story of intrigue, but it pretty much reads like the part of Stravaganza set in Talia (the parallel world of medieval Venice). There's a long list of characters, and as the story progresses, it's a delight to see how their lives intersect, even when you see it coming. Silvano da Montacuto is young, handsome and rich. He is infatuated with the beautiful wife of a sheep farmer, and when her husband is killed with Silvano's dagger, suspicion naturally falls on Silvano. His father sends him away to a monastery to keep him safe until the real murderer can be found. Meanwhile, the young and beautiful Chiara is delivered by her brother to the neighboring nunnery, as there is no money for a dowry for her. Of course, Silvano and Chiara meet and then watch each other from afar. There is a murder at the monastery, and then another murder. The truth about Silvano's situation becomes known, and, of course, he is suspected. There are many more plot twists and turns which I won't begin to try to explain. The ending satisfyingly wraps up all the loose ends. Review by Stacy Church

Third Maggie Quinn Book Out!

Highway to Hell, Rosemary Clement-Moore's sequel to Prom Dates from Hell and Hell Week is just in!

On their way to spend spring break on a Texas beach, college freshmen Maggie Quinn and D&D Lisa are stranded in a town where some believe a chupacabra is killing animals. The girls investigate, with help from some expected sources.

New Gaming Fiction

Saga by Conor Kostick

Ghost is part of an anarcho-punk airboard gang who live to break the rules. As things begin to change and become stranger and stranger within their world, Saga, Ghost and her gang learn the complicated truth: Saga isn't actuallly a place. It's a sentient computer game. If you love to play video games, try the sequel to Kostick's Epic.

Review of Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab

I enjoyed reading this book about a teenager with sophisticated tastes from New York City relocating to the small town of Prague in upstate New York. Not only does Matisse (named by her artist parents after the famous painter) have to deal with the loss of her best friend, and access to fashion, movies, and music, but the reason for the move is her father's deteriorating health due to Parkinson's Disease. At her old school in New York, Matisse hated the constant sympathy from her classmates once they found out about her father's illness, so she is determined to keep the kids at her new school from seeing or meeting him. Of course, in a small town that's not so easy. There are the usual characters: the snobby bullying cheerleader, the hayseed in overalls who turns out to be not so stupid, and the football player who turns out not to be such a jerk afterall. The dialogue is a little stilted, but the characters are mostly realistic, and the story is good enough to carry you through. Review by Stacy Church