Tag Archives: malka older

Marvelous Mysteries: The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses and A Most Puzzling Murder

11 Jun

The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses
by Malka Older
I’m a huge fan of Malka Older’s Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti novella series. Set in a post apocalyptic colony on Jupiter after Earth is no longer inhabitable the series is a cozy space opera mystery sapphic romance series which despite their short length still pose interesting ideas about love, the resilience of humanity, and the push pull between honoring the past and looking towards our future endeavors. Pleiti, a professor, and Mossa, a detective, in the two previous books had renewed their romantic relationship from back in their college days, but now in The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses, Mossa has been growing distant and seems uninterested in helping the sister of another of their old school friends who has been accused of plagiarism so Pleiti must solve the mystery on her own. But when the case turns out to have a more dangerous aspect than at first it seemed Pleiti wonders if she might be in over her head. Though part of me didn’t want to see Mossa and Pleiti’s romance in question, I think for the characters this felt like a realistic hurdle that they would need to face. I like how this novel shakes up both characters out of their comfort zones and allows them to grow individually.

A Most Puzzling Murder
Bianca Marais
The latest from Canadian author, Bianca Marais, is an intriguing novel which provides puzzles not only for its protagonist, but also for the readers to solve, which can reward them with a bonus scene (hints and even solutions are provided for those that need them). Destiny Whip, a reclusive former child prodigy, is intrigued when she gets a letter to interview for a position of the Scruffmore’s family historian which she never applied for. Set in a castle there are elements of the gothic as Destiny tries to stop the murder of one of the family and determine who the perpetrator might be. For those reading the audiobook, ebook or library version Marais provides printable versions of the puzzles for readers on her website. I had fun trying to solve the puzzles as well as reading this supernatural mystery novel that has plenty of juicy family drama. I liked how the chose your own aspect plays with the idea of some events being fated while others can take dramatically different turns depending on a small change. If like me, you enjoyed the “choose your own adventure books” as a tween, than you’ll find a lot of fun nostalgia in the participatory elements of reading this story.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Outstanding Stories in Outer Space: The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles and Chilling Effect

7 Feb

Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles
by Malka Older
The second in The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series, Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, by Malka Older comes out February 13. We will be discussing the first book in the series The Mimicking of Known Successes during our February Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group. Although both books clock in around novella length they are packed with interesting world building and fun mysteries. Mossa is a detective while Pleiti is a professor who studies the classics, as in the classical way things were done on Earth and that the human’s who are now living in Space hope they may be able to return one day. Platforms built around Jupiter, a Gas Giant, as well as life on IO one of the moon’s is detailed in the story with clever details like a bunker home being referred to as a “Hobbit” style. Although a couple in their younger days, the two women, have only have become reunited after Mossa’s last case and the tentative attempts between them to develop their relationship further add another sweet element to the plot. I hope we will see more adventures starring the couple in the future.

Chilling Effect
by Valerie Valdes
Chilling Effect is the first in the three book trilogy by Valerie Valdes that revolves around a spunky Cuban Captain Eva Innocente and her rag tag crew of La Sirena Negra (the black mermaid). I haven’t read a lot of Space Opera incorporating Latin American influences and it was cool seeing how Valdes incorporated cultural details and Cuban idioms in the novel; my favorite is arroz con mango or mango with rice which Eva uses when she gets in sticky situations (they happen often enough she also uses it as her code word at one point in the story in answer to what her favorite food is). Much of the story revolves around her blood family causing dramatic situations for her found family of crew. In this story she also is being stalked by a creepy space emperor and has a slow burning romance with one of her fellow crew members whose species gives off different scents based on their emotions and thoughts, which Valdes uses to clever effect. There is a great deal of humor and heart in the novel and if you are looking for cozy Space Opera (a colony of space cats lives on board the ship) than check this one out. I look forward to also reading book two, Prime Deception, and book three, Fault Tolerance, in the series.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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