Hoboken Library Staff Picks

The Geomagicians
by Jennifer Mandula
The Geomagicians is an intriguing debut novel by Jennifer Mandula. In the novel, Mary Anning isn’t any regular paleontologist, she is a geogmagician. In this historic fantasy world, magic can be stored and drawn from artifacts, the most powerful of which are fossils. Because of sexism she faces she struggles to support herself, even though she is responsible for many spectacular finds. Sometimes in period fantasies the prejudices at the time have been wiped away and though this can provide a sense of cozy escape to our current woes, it sometimes takes me out of the story to see something so far from what the reality would have been that the societal interactions seem less believable than the magic. I liked that this book actually explores how a woman during the era would have to overcome issues of prejudice and thus it makes her successes feel more earned. It also weaves in views on religion with magic in a very unique way. Mary Anning who the character was based on was a real life fossil collector in Lyme Regis who lived from 1799-1847; I think she would have been pleased with Mandula’s charming account. This story will appeal to those who enjoy rivals to romances and those looking for a unique new take on period Fantasy.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me
by Ilona Andrews
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the intriguing new novel by Ilona Andrews. One day Maggie wakes up to find that she has been magically transported into Kair Toren, a city that she believed existed only in her favorite (but unfinished) fantasy series. Unfortunately for Maggie this fantasy world is not a cozy one, imagine being dropped into one of the city’s from Game of Thrones and its grimdark conniving politics. Maggie must use her knowledge from the books to make her way in the dangerous and yet magical world. I liked that Maggie is aware of portal fantasies and even mentions truck kun, the notorious delivery truck in isekai anime’s that sends so many unsuspecting teens to magical lands. Her self awareness adds another interesting element to the story. Learning about Kair Toren from the book makes this feel like a story within a story. This book will appeal to fans of The Magicians and those who have wondered what they would do if they were dropped in their favorite story. This is the first in a duology and after finishing this one which ends on a cliffhanger, I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

Tags: duology, fantasy, gaslight fantasy, Ilona Andrews, Jennifer Mandula, portal fantasy, Romantasy