FANTASY, THRILLER, ROMANCE combine in this story of a high-stakes magic battle and the teens who fight it. SOLID B

REACHING RETRIBUTION
Kaitlyn Hoyt
2013

The “hero’s journey” story is an evergreen of children’s and Young Adult literature, since the process of triumphing over adversity through self-knowledge and personal growth is eternally relatable. Sure, most teens don’t have to assemble a magical army and defeat Death Eaters, or elude assassins in the Hunger Games, but the central mythology is a powerful one for people at the cusp of adulthood.

This kind of story only engages us when we find the central character compelling, and Kaitlyn Hoyt succeeds admirably in making us care about the magically gifted but self-doubting Ryanne Arden. In Reaching Retribution, the final book in a four-volume series, Ryanne and her allies must unite their supernatural powers to combat a would-be dictator who plans to seize absolute power through magic. Hoyt makes this familiar plot her own with her characters’ authentically adolescent points of view, complete with impatience, impulsivity, and ignoring their elder mentors’ wise advice until it’s almost too late.

Hoyt’s a fine storyteller, and the mechanics of her magic battles are consistent, while most of the action is well paced. More rigorous editing might have helped improve the clarity of the dialogue-heavy expository scenes; overall, though, the series is an impressive achievement for a young self-published writer.

FANTASY, THRILLER, ROMANCE combine in this story of a high-stakes magic battle and the teens who fight it.

SUBTLE, POETIC HISTORICAL novel explores interracial bonds and tensions in the early 20th century Midwest. SOLID B

MARCHING TO ZION
Open Road Media E-Riginal
2013

IMPASSIONED (IF TENDENTIOUS) indictment of the DSM-V and the process of its creation raises major questions. B PLUS

THE BOOK OF WOE: THE DSM AND THE UNMAKING OF PSYCHIATRY
Blue Rider Press
2013

A SON’S LOVING, UNFLINCHING memoir of his mother’s difficult life and its tragic end in murder. Powerful. SOLID B

SON OF A GUN
Random House
2013

A HIGH-SOCIETY MURDER and lots of family drama for the Blackbird sisters in their latest mystery adventure. SOLID B

LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MURDER (BLACKBIRD SISTERS MYSTERIES)
NAL Hardcover
2013

CHARMINGLY DOWN-TO-EARTH OVERVIEW of neurophilosophy looks at the biology of the mind and self. Enlightening! B PLUS

TOUCHING A NERVE : THE SELF AS BRAIN
W. W. Norton & Company
2013

HILARIOUS, ABSURD FANTASY! A slacker college student travels through time to a 19th century whaling ship. A MINUS

TOUCHING A NERVE : THE SELF AS BRAIN
W. W. Norton & Company
2013

What would you do if you woke up on a 19th century whaling ship? Cormac McIlhenny decides to roll with it and see if he’s any good at harpooning whales. Turns out he is, which makes quite a change from his 21st century life of skipping classes, getting drunk, and playing guitar in a terrible band.

Gone Whalin’ is a wonderfully absurd time-travel fantasy, a hilarious campus satire, and a picaresque caper novel. When Cormac’s stoner roommate and the corrupt campus dean join forces to exploit his century-hopping abilities, all hell breaks loose on the home front. Meanwhile, Cormac’s got problems in his 19th century existence as well, aboard the world’s least efficient whaling vessel and at the mercy of its delusional captain. If only he had bothered to read Moby Dick instead of getting high…

This novel does an awful lot of things very well. It’s a farce full of fast-paced action, but there are some pretty sharp barbs aimed at academic politics, social media rubberneckers, sensational journalism, and a broad range of human foibles. The tempo stays quick, the plotting is always smart, and there are plenty of laughs aboard. Don’t miss it!