REVIEW: The Will of the Many by James Islington

 

If I had to classify this book, I'd classify it as dark academia - it reminded me a lot of Lord of the Flies that meets The Secret Stranger with a bit of Harry Potter thrown in for good measure.  The main character is Vis, a teenage ousted prince whose kingdom has "civilized" (aka invaded and taken over) by The Hierarchy, a Roman/Greek type of society where its members engage in a pyramid structure of "will ceding." The lower classes are at the bottom of the pyramid and they cede their wills to those that occupy the higher levels, with the few at the top getting will from the thousands of people below them. The ones who receive the will receive tremendous physical benefits, but the ones that cede their will suffer terribly in the process.  It's an awful caste system that is reminiscent of apartheid or slavery. Vis, an orphan on top of being ousted, is adopted by a prestigious family and sent to "The Academy" by his adoptive father in order to investigate his adoptive uncle's death.

This lengthy novel is VERY ambitious. There are themes of colonialism and capitalism, nepotism, definitions of family and friends (i.e. how do you define them?), loyalty and revenge.  In spite of taking these own in a heavy handed manner, Islington is subtle in how he presents these, and the book is action packed, making it both exciting and interesting.  I didn't lose interest, that's for sure. Vis, and many of the other characters, are very complex.  Vis especially has to struggle with anger, scars and a strong moral compass that compels him to do the right thing in spite of the odds and pressures being put on him.  I often forgot that he was only 17 in the book (he turns 18 at one point).

There are a lot of training montages in this novel and the vast majority of the book occurs in an academic setting so if that's not your favorite, then stay away. Otherwise, pick this up! I couldn't put it down. 

REVIEW: Marilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail Crowther

 

Who knew that Marilyn had approximately 400 books in her personal library that she religiously moved with her to home after home? I certainly didn't know that the perhaps most famous icon of our time was such an avid reader.  And her association with writers certainly didn't stop with the written word - not only did she marry Arthur Miller, but through him and independently she met and interacted with numerous other writers of her time. Gail Crowther in this book delves deeply into Marilyn's personal collection and her impressive program to educate and cultivate her mind after dropping out of high school. She was hungry for knowledge and stopped at nothing to read and she read everything that she could get her hands on. 

Dr. Crowther did an immaculate, well researched deep dive into this topic.  She clearly thoroughly researched her subject and, apparently, had the support of the estate in researching and writing this book.  It contains not only information about her books, but tidbits about her life in the hopes of illuminating readers about who Marilyn was beyond the image that the studios forced her to portray.  Marilyn Monroe was clearly highly intelligent, intellectually curious and, sadly, particularly troubled.  The book itself is a fast and interesting read - it took me 2 to 3 days to read and moved quickly.  

I LOVE reading about and learning about what people read because I believe it offers us insight into them and their personality, interests and values. This book gave me insight into the person behind the facade, making the book a well worth read.  

Links I love

 

This week has been HOT here and we're experiencing yellow skies as a result of the Canadian wildfires.  From an exercise perspective, things are so much better.  I've been getting in regularly to lift 3-4 times a week (for a woman at my age, re-starting to lift helps my bones and making sure I have enough muscle and am not losing any). I've also been rowing on my erg 3-4 times a week and walking with my weighted vest.  I have always been active and being sidelined for a while has been really difficult for my mental health so i'm happy to be back.  I'm hoping to get up North for a few days to do a short hike. 

• Ten Japanese books to read this summer.
• A literary tour through the streets of Prague.
• 6 new novels that re-imagine the Indian family.
• Books if you are a language lover. 
• The best books on Stonehenge.
• Books about people just living. 
• Non Fiction books being loved by NPR staffers right now. 
• How to keep reading if you have a long summer TBR list.
• Are we living through the end of reading?
• Why making friends is so hard as an adult.
• What people are saying about Christopher Nolan's Odyssey. My copy is coming in the mail - I want to read it before I see it.
• What are the Emma Lion books and why are they having a moment?
• Three must read non fiction books for disability awareness month.
• 20 speculative fiction books to get you through 2026.
• 42% of women don't know that they're in peri menopause.
• There's a new Fourth Wing book coming out!
• Marriage and the maiden name. 
• Rhode Island codifies a right to read.
• Cozy horror is a thing.
• The small press books you don't want to miss this summer. 
• The best of modern true crime. 

Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store!

REVIEW The Children by Melissa Albert

 

This book has been all over the place recently and for good reason. In this novel, we follow Guinevere Sharpe, whose mother, Edith, is the author of a hit children's series of books known as the Ninth City series. This series of books has brought so much inspiration and joy to other children but Guin and her brother Ennis have different memories of the time period in which Edith was writing these books. Guin is preparing to release a memoir, however, that portrays her childhood as bohemian and blissful, filled with love an laughter.  This release occurs during a period when Guin is estranged from Ennis and her parents are long dead, having died in a fire that destroyed their home in Vermont (the same home that the Ninth City Series was written in). At the same time that Guin's memoir is being released, Ennis, a renowned artist, has released his new immersive art show entitled simply "Mother." This has caused Guin to begin her journey towards her past and reconnecting with her brother. 

This book got under my skin.  It was beautifully written and included a world that was seemingly peaceful and beautiful, but really was inhabited by dark magic and ghosts. The family was most assuredly a toxic and dysfunctional one, with passive aggressive snarking, probable alcohol abuse, dishonesty and infidelity, as well as neglect of the children. There were ghosts and supernatural occurrences and accidents that caused deaths. I simply couldn't put this book down and looked forward to each new reveal, wondering what would be around the next corner.

This tale about grief and family is one that I will never forget.  Read this one immediately.

REVIEW Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick

 

I've always liked Nathaniel Philbrick's books on American History - and I picked this book up because of the recent celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. This one didn't disappoint. Philbrick generally paints a picture of pre-revolutionary Boston and is focused on the siege and battle of the area in Boston that occurred until the British left about a year later. 

For a history book, this is a very quick read.  Philbrick obviously did a tremendous amount of research on this area of US history and relies heavily on primary sources (letters, journals etc), as he should.  I distinctly remember learning about and loving learning about the Revolutionary period in American History (superseded only by the Civil War and Reconstruction era - I know, I'm weird), but never in as much detail as Philbrick gives us.  Simply because it is chock full of details doesn't mean, however, that it is bogged down or slow - Philbrick has the unique ability to create a non-fiction history book that reads almost like a novel. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the actors - it was as if they came to life and I was experiencing their bombastic personalities in real time. I learned a lot about people like Phyllis Wheatly and Dr. Joseph Warren (who was one of THE leaders at Bunker Hill) that I never knew before. This, in and of itself, made the book worth it and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history.

Links I love

 

It has been a really hot week here. I finally was able to use the pool in our condo complex for the first time this summer and it was delightful.  I hope that everyone is staying cool!

• How we celebrated the Fourth!
• The best books on the United States. 
• From Lead Belly to Tupac: How Prison has shaped American music. 
• Here's how quickly the heat can dehydrate you.
• 8 microhabits that can help you lead a happier life. 
• 10 facts about Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera's relationship.
• The Founding Father that refused to celebrate Independence Day.
• This was good news, but with a cloud over it.
• Why small domestic details make historical fiction feel more real.
• Books that explore power dynamics in relationships with a large age gap.
• 6 things that people do differently in Finland, the happiest country in the world.
• 5 works of classical music that were written (relatively) quickly. 
• 7 Blockbusters from the 80's that still hold up. 
• The Disney animatronics heist of 2018.
• Mysteries set in grand residences.
• The best new books to read this summer, according to the millions. 
• The 2026 Harvey awards have been announced. 
• Best historical fiction books of the year (so far). And the best mystery, thriller and true crime books of the year so far. 
• Were officials biased in Argentina's win against Egypt at the World Cup?
• I'm looking forward to some of these books.
• The Saudi woman who is reimagining filmmaking.
• Is the end of reading here?
• I love that our governor did this.
• The true story of Laura Ingalls is WILD.
• How and why to cull your book collection.
• Celebrity book club picks for July, 2026. 
• 2026 Australian Jewish writers Award Shortlist.

I hope that everyone has a good week. I'm currently reading Marilyn and Her Books by Gail Crowther and listening to We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter, both of which are so good.

Please be sure to visit my PangoBooks store and to add me on Goodreads!

REVIEW Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy

 

I picked up this book after reading a memoir - I wanted something quick, fresh and intriguing and I wasn't disappointed.  This novel takes place in a quiet suburban town in Maryland. It's a town that feels familiar with all of us, but there's an undercurrent of tension that raises the hair on the back of your neck but you're not sure why. In one home is Klara and Troy.  There's something off about Troy and Klara never wanted the white picket fence that she has.  Mary lives across the street and is preparing her home to be sold as she can't stand to live in the home that has bad memories of her son and mistakes. Henry lives with his parents and watches people way too closely for comfort.

What I really enjoyed was the unique way that Murphy structures her novel. I didn't expect it to circle back on itself the way that it did but I ended up really loving it. The novel explores relationships, it's true, but specifically it focuses on mothers and motherhood. It asks the question: what influence do mothers have on the people that their boys eventually become? Can they truly change or significantly influence them? The mothers in this novel are constantly present, some would say overbearing or enabling, while the fathers are absent either physically or emotionally. The pacing of the novel is brilliant and is best described as a slow burn.  It is anything but boring, however. I also really enjoyed how things eventually came together - it was a satisfying conclusion. 

Definitely worth the read.