Tag Archives: Ann Aguirre

Magical Reads: The Hocus Pocus Handbook and Cards on the Table

2 Sep
Cover of Cards on the Table: A Witchy Mystery by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon. Features an illustration of a manor house behind iron gates with two women at the gate entry. The edge of the cover resembles the line work one would often find around a tarot card.

The Hocus Pocus Handbook
by Ann Aguirre
I’ve enjoyed some of Ann Aguirre’s previous contemporary fantasy novels set in the modern world including Witch Please and The Only Purple House in Town. The Hocus Pocus Handbook, however, although it focus on Thea, a changeling who was snatched from a world similar to our own as a baby, is set in the realm of the world of fairies. It was amusing to see Thea talk about things in our modern world that she read about in fiction, the way in which we often see the reverse where people speak of the fantasy creatures and magic in fantasy tales. The story alternates perspectives between Thea and her love interest Kerboros who have been tasked with hunting down a fairy from another fairy court, who Thea was forced into an arranged marriage with. Each of Thea’s chapter starts with an excerpt from the spellbook aka The Hocus Pocus Handbook, that was given to her by a hobgoblin who had acted as an adoptive father, and object descriptions of the artwork that Kerboros created for his chapters, which is an interesting way to include their backstories. Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses should check this one out.

Cards on the Table
by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon
Cards on the Table is a gothic novel by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon about two sisters who find themselves lured to the isolated estate of a wealthy occultist. The sister’s are descendants of one of the women who was executed during the Salem witch trials; Cassie believes they have inherited psychic powers, but her older sister Tori thinks they are just skilled at doing cold readings like their con-artist mom. I was a fan of Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series and enjoyed this novel as well, though it has a much darker and spookier tone. It kept me guessing whether the sister’s had real powers and when a death and a theft occur, who might be the responsible culprit. Gagnon is the author of several mysteries and romances including her debut #famous. I enjoyed this story a lot so hope we see more collaborations between the two authors in the future.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Finding Family in Unusual Places: The Only Purple House in Town and Divinity 36

12 Jul

I’m always enjoy a good “found family” story where characters find their place amongst others who often themselves have felt like misfits or outcasts. Speculative Fiction often puts a spin on this when characters don’t just feel different, but may be aliens or supernatural such as with Divinity 36 and The Only Purple House in Town.

The Only Purple House in Town
by Ann Aguire
I had previously enjoyed and written about Aguire’s novel Witch Please, the first in her Fix-It Witch Series. Although The Only Purple House in Town is set in the same world as Fix-It Witch, the central couple have other supernatural lineage. Iris Collins was raised by a family of psychic vampires, but believes she lacks any special abilities herself. Eli Reese has made a small fortune creating popular apps, but a late bloomer, most days he’d rather shift and fly free in his avian form then interact with other people. Eli and Iris met briefly in their youth before Eli moved away, but they bump into each other again as adults while Eli is fixing up his grandmother’s house for sale and Iris just inherited a purple Victorian, which she is renting to make ends meet. Sparks fly when Eli moves in; it seems Iris just might discover her hidden self and Eli might find a reason to stay in human form. They are joined in the restoring the old purple Victorian by several quirky humans and one witchy roommate. Although the core couple are straight, several LGBTQ characters are also featured and the growing suspicions and hatred towards the supernatural community seem paralleled to the rise of prejudice in our own society giving the book a timeliness. A meddlesome neighbor adds some drama and Eli and Iris have a few early misunderstandings to overcome but this low stakes cozy supernatural romance will make an enjoyable beach read. This gentle read will appeal to fans of TJ Klune’s novels. I received an early copy of The Only Purple House in Town from Netgalley and the publisher.

Divinity 36
by Gail Carriger
Gail Carriger is my favorite author; her work is unique, funny, insightful, and overall charming. She started off in the Steampunk Genre including the Adult Parasol Protectorate and the YA Finishing School series, but has recently begun crafting Science Fiction. Much like her Fantasy has mostly been confined to the interconnected Parasolverse, her individual Science Fiction is set in the larger world of Tinkered Stars. Divinity 36 is her first in the Tinkered Starsong Trilogy, about a crudrat refugee barista, Phex, who is selected to become a musical and literal “God” by an alien race who can make transcendent color from the songs and dances that the pantheons they create perform. At first Phex is unable to relate to many of his fellow contestants and feels closer to the more alien of them than the Sapiens who appear physically similar to him and yet are often repelled by the fact that he comes from a world where people are genetically engineered. Slowly though he finds friendship with others including my favorite character, the cuddly flying insectoid Berril. The novel is marketed as YA and has minimal violence and no sex so again a good choice for those looking for a gentle read for adults as well, especially those looking for new adult works. I look forward to the other books in the series that will be released later in the year (the next one, Demigod 12, comes out August 1). If you enjoy speculative fiction with a musical focus, check out my blog post on Catherynne M. Valente’s wacky Eurovision inspired Space Opera and my post on Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster. You can also listen to another of Carriger’s YA stories set in the same universe, Crudrat, that gives more insight into the Wheel, the place where Phex grew up.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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