What Moves the Dead by Ursula Vernon

I'm going to give it a 3.5 and round up. This is a pretty good story as retellings go. If you're not familiar with the original story then the pretty clear telegraphing of the root cause of the Fall of the House of Usher takes away from it a bit. Recasting the protagonist as a non-binary soldier is a solid move. So overall I enjoyed it.

So this is the first in a series. Where else is Easton going to go? We shall see.

My Goodreads Review

Nettle and Bone, by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)

This is really a strong book, very character-driven and the protagonist, Marra, is truly relatable.  The book starts in the middle of Marra performing the three impossible tasks the dust-wife asks of her in exchange for her help dealing with the abusive Prince of the North.  The story in its way is pretty familiar--Marra, the dust-wife (a keeper of cemeteries who can speak to the dead) and her demon-possessed chicken go on a hero's journey to save Marra's sister Kania.  They pick up an unwillingly evil godmother and a heroic knight along the way.  All of these characters are fully developed in the book, and I was attached to them by the time it was finished.  She also scores some solid points on the patriarchy and the pain being imposed.  It's a cozy yet powerful read.  Good stuff.

My Goodreads Review

Metal Like Blood In the Dark, by Ursula Vernon as T. Kingfisher

A good solid escape story. Explores how AIs programmed to trust might figure out that humans (and other AIs) are not necessarily trustworthy. Like others, I think I have read this story before in some other form, but it's not a bad thing for it to come around again.

David Shontz’s review of Metal Like Blood in the Dark | Goodreads

Fisher-Bird, by T. Kingfisher

 This story is a retelling of the Seven Labors of Hercules, as a dialog between a fisher-bird and a simple, but very strong and somewhat reluctant hero.  Most of what's interesting here is the dialog between the bird and the man--he is a poor, put-upon soul, and the bird is quite spicy.  They take a risk together to complete one of the labors.  It's fun.

The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society, by T. Kingfisher

The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society by T. Kingfisher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not a lot new here but it's an entertaining description of Fey males getting the tables turned on them, I thought it was quite fun to read. Agree with other reviewers that these characters could be in other stories.



View all my reviews

The Tomato Thief, by Ursula Vernon

The Tomato Thief is a Hugo nominee for the Novella award this year.  This one fits into the Native American tradition, with some interesting twists.  Our protagonist is an elder (the term isn't used in the story), Grandma Harken.  She grows the best tomatoes in the area, and they are getting stolen.  Turns out the thief is a shapechanger--a woman who is also a mockingbird.  The story revolves around what happens when Grandma Harken catches the thief and learns her story.

Vernon had a story called Jackalope Wives nominated for the Nebula in 2015.  Grandma Harken is the protagonist there also, and there's a brief reference, but you don't have to have read it to appreciate this one.

Vernon has constructed a very interesting world in a short space.  We have magical, sentient trains that speak like mystics.  A child with cholla ribs for bones.  It's a fascinating read, and will be a contender for the award.  I give it a strong 3 stars.

Jackalope Wives, by Ursula Vernon

Jackalope Wives is the first pure fantasy story nominee for the Nebula that I have read this year.  It's a little standard, featuring attractive nubile mythical beasties (the jackalope wives) and brooding young men (Twilight) and wise old grandmas (ubiquitous).  But it's well done and fun to read, so I say have at it.  3 stars.