staff recommendations

~Sujata Massey

 Set in 1920s India, the newest installment of the Perveen Mistry historical mystery series focuses on the glamour and intrigue of early Bollywood. A murder, a disappearance, and the dark web of lies that emerges as Perveen, the only female lawyer in Bombay, investigates and tries to solve the mystery that emerges.  

~Kiersten White

 This Egyptian mythology romantasy tells the timeless Heroine’s Journey away from and back to herself, her family, and her heritage. I’ve read this book at least 10 times and loved it every time. It’s fantastical, heart-wrenching, and romantic. 

~Kell Woods

An enchanting fairytale set in 1700s France that combines elements of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. Lucinde “Luce” Léon comes from a well-to-do ship-owning family, but dreams of breaking traditional gender norms to have her own adventures at sea. After saving the youngest son of another wealthy local family from drowning after a shipwreck, Luce’s life is thrown into chaos as new relationships and difficulties change her future before her eyes.

~Aleese Lin

Samantha has been trying to escape the magical legacy of her family her entire life. Her attempt at a normal life is interrupted, however, when the passing of her grandmother Rose draws her back to her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts. As the executor of her grandmother’s (magically binding) will, Samantha is stuck doing odd jobs around town, like planning paranormal weddings, until she can get Rose’s affairs in order.

~by T. Kingfisher

 Wolf Worm really got to me. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for an exceptionally insidious horror book. The main character's struggles with 1899's scientific landscape and its sexism are also explored beautifully in a way that makes it feel like maybe it's not only about 127 years ago. 

~by A. Rae Dunlap

In 1828, James Willoughby abandons his studies at Oxford University and moves to Edinburgh to become a physician. After facing financial difficulties, he is drawn into the dark underworld of body snatching to provide cadavers to local medical schools as a means to fund his education. This novel is equal parts entertaining and terrifying, and I loved every second of it.