DarkLight On: DarkSider Reading for 2024

DarkSiders share some of what they read n 2024.

Astrid Cooper

The Women 

by Kristin Hannah 

(American nurses in Vietnam - fiction)

Review:

Kristin Hannah, an American author, sells millions of books. This is her latest work and the first one I have read. Excited by the premise, I bought my own hardback copy. The story begins in 1965, Southern California, at a birthday party in a mansion—the home of Frances ("Frankie") McGrath whose life is idyllic and carefree. Her wealthy, socialite family is traditional in their expectations for Frankie. The war does not impact her life—until her beloved brother, Finley, is called up for Vietnam service. The family has a long tradition of distinguished military service, as evidenced by the hero wall in her home. It is the first time she wonders why there are no women on that wall. Her moment of change occurs when she is told that "women can be heroes, too!" Despite family opposition, Frankie decides to follow her brother and enlists as a trainee army nurse. When her brother is killed in action, she continues with her training, arriving in Vietnam—naive and idealistic. She is horrified at the primitive conditions. Her first days on duty are full of horror and gore. Nothing has prepared her for the reality of her service. She makes powerful friends with two other nurses and these scenes are excellent. Inevitably, Frankie has romantic interests, but these are predictable and unconvincing, especially when Frankie takes time off to impulsively leave the base to do shopping in Saigon, or spend a day at the beach water skiing—thanks to a flyboy and his unsanctioned? use of a medical helicopter. 

Suspending my disbelief because of these necessary romantic genre plot developments, the story (for me) became disjointed. Part Two of the book is about Frankie's return to civilian life: she is unprepared for the discrimination she endures as a returning veteran. Her nursing skills, hard won in the war, are of no consequence, and in the hospital where she works, she is assigned basic duties. Is this true, or the author's "poetic licence" to illustrate the prejudice veterans faced on their return to the world? Frankie battles PTSD, alcoholism and drug taking, amid plans to marry. The ending is predictable. Though some parts were excellent; I expected more from this book.

Researching the role of Australian nurses in Vietnam: 43 women nurses served in Vietnam, and upon their return to Australia, were instructed not to talk about their experiences, and so, battled their own isolation and PTSD. This is a story I would rather read.

There are Rivers in the Sky 

by Elif Shafak

(has paranormal/reincarnation elements - fantastic book)

This book was a wonderful surprise. Picked at random from new releases at the Waikerie Library, I had never heard of the author—Elif Shafak—a Turkish-British woman who writes in English and Turkish and has published 21 books. Her latest book is about water and starts in ancient Mesopotamia with a droplet of rain that becomes a common thread throughout the story, linking the multiple viewpoint characters, with emphasis on Zaleekhak, a hydrologist.

The droplet of water has its own powerful narration from ancient Ninevah, to Victorian London, to Turkey in 2014 and in London, 2018, each character’s story is fascinating, challenging and at times horrifying (Narin’s capture details a not often told story of the abuse of women by ISIS terrorists). The writing is sublime, the story evocative and when I closed the book the story and characters remained in my imagination for days…a true indication of the power of a book and characters and story to engage. The book, for me, remains unforgettable.

The Goddess of Warsaw 
by Lisa Barr 

(the best heroine I have read in years!)  

Here is a review I did for a newspaper: 

This historical thriller begins in Hollywood, 2005, then back to Warsaw, Poland from 1939 to 1945 and ends in 2006. When I read the blurb of this book I did a mental eye-roll: too often books do not live up to the hype, but I found it to be the rare exception. If anything, I cannot praise this book and heroine enough. The writing is exceptional, at times cynical; the settings come to life. Hollywood starlet and flavour of the month, Sienna Hayes, is granted a rare interview with the aged  Hollywood femme fatale, Lena Browning. The two women measure the other.  Sienna wants to portray Lena in a film that she intends to write, direct and produce. So much for the “bimbo”.  But Lena is also more than she seems and has kept horrifying secrets for over 60 years. She confronts Sienna by saying: “Here’s what you don’t know, Miss Hayes. Browning is not my real name. It’s the make of the gun I used to kill the Nazi who pistol-shipped my father to death.”  And that’s just the first of many shocks for the reader and for Sienna who is intrigued. So, in a long flashback, Lena tells Sienna her story.  It is chilling and riveting, and in the telling, Lena becomes a heroine in every sense of the word. She is the best-crafted character I have ever read, and the book was unputdownable. 

Lena is Bina Blonski, a young Jewish actress whose stage presence has gained her accolades and enemies—it is Poland, 1939 and the Nazis are now in power. Bina’s family are rich, and prominent and targets for the evil unfolding through the machinations of Baron Sobieski, a Nazi sympathiser whose son is Bina’s friend whom he helps to his own cost. Four hundred thousand Jews are rounded up and herded into several residential blocks and segregated by barbed wire, impenetrable walls and callous guards with machine guns. Hunger and disease are rife. Nazi soldiers regularly enter the ghetto to take Jews to the death camps.  The ghetto inhabitants are wily, cunning and at times outwit their persecutors. Bina, with her blonde hair and blue eyes and tall willowy frame passes herself off as the ideal Aryan woman and via the sewers enters the Polish side of the ghetto to barter for weapons, food and ammunition and use her acting abilities to infiltrate the enemy ranks. She also becomes an assassin despatching traitors and Nazis on order of Zelda, the young woman who runs the ghetto resistance. Yes, this is very dark stuff, and it gets darker, with more twists and turns and horrors. This book is fact masquerading in fiction. Doubtless the reality was far worse than even the author can portray. The Siege of the Warsaw Ghetto was a desperate attempt to bring the plight of the Jews to world attention, and to allow time for survivors to escape. What the Nazis said would take two days to crush, took a month. Bina escapes, but very few do so. She sees her husband, and friends executed before her by her nemesis. She vows revenge, no matter how long and how hard, and eventually finds her way to America, to a new life and persona. Using her power and position as Hollywood’s darling, she manages to eliminate several Nazis in disguise…aided by one of her producer friends. But a Nazi eludes her;  her quarry is unreachable, hiding in South America.  With the arrival of Sienna in Lena’s life, new opportunities arise and new accolades. 

If this book review sounds horrifying – it is, but it is the characters, their courage, and sacrifice, and camaraderie that sets this book apart from everything I have ever read. It is the triumph of love and the human spirit  against a ruthless and barbaric regime—with surprising twists at every turn. And why the title? Goddess seemed to me, a misnomer…until another surprising plot twist reveals the answer. I cheered when Bina triumphed. 

Other reading includes:

My holiday reading is always the 5 book series by Anne Bishop (The Others). This series has to be the absolute epitome of urban fantasy (IMHO). Characterisation superb, story lines unique and engaging, and very, very clever. Every time I read them I get something new from the books. 

• The Nameless Names: Finding the Lost ANZACs, Scott Bennett (non fiction)

• The Maid, Nita Prost (quirky whodunnit in a hotel)

• Clete by James Lee Burke (hard core crime fiction)

• Target In Sight by Diane Hester (South Aussie author - crime fiction) 

JL Peridot

Three books that made me think in 2024.

A Half-Built Garden 

by Ruthana Emrys

 

I wouldn’t call this my favourite book, nor would I call it a fully realised first-contact story, but it was certainly a book that made me think. It takes certain subcultures of today, and explores the “what if” of them becoming dominant and equal societal structures that then have to cope with realising humans aren’t alone in the universe. Why do we cling to certain sensibilities in the face of things more profound and world-changing? Who are we if not the customs we hold onto and the choices we make when adapting to new things together? Ps. There’s an alien romance subplot that, for all its cuteness, still stimulates the academic part of the sci-fi reading mind.

 

Some Desperate Glory 

by Emily Tesh

 

This book is a compelling space opera about a young woman who grew up in a revenge cult after aliens destroyed Earth. The story follows her transformation from being fully indoctrinated to growing up and seeing the universe from a different perspective. It’s very cleverly written, in that as a reader you come to understand the inconsistencies of the protagonist’s world before the protagonist herself does, while still remaining rooted in her understanding of how things work. It made me think about how we might be indoctrinated in our own ways, and whether the certainty we often crave might do more harm than good. Admittedly, I was almost scared to submit this book, because I understand it can be quite divisive. But it was both unputdownable and thought-provoking for me, and I hope you guys enjoy it too.

 

Nolan’s Hunger 

by Josh Radwell

 

A paranormal romance, but not the typical kind as it tends more towards horror, and tells a “marriage story” instead of a budding relationship. Upon suddenly becoming a vampire, Nolan struggles with his new taboo hunger, putting a strain on his relationship with his doting partner Parker. It’s an artful and unassuming use of horror and the paranormal to explore uncomfortable relationship territory. Every relationship will encounter a defining test of commitment, sometimes early, sometimes after decades. You as an individual and a pair need to decide whether your presumed HEA might actually have been an HFN. It got me reflecting on the relationships (and friendships) that failed this test, and pondering what’s needed to pass. I read novella this back in July, and I’m still thinking about it.

Janni Nell

Here are three of my favourite discoveries for 2024.

Armstrong & Oscar series

by T A Williams

Armstrong & Oscar is a delightful cosy mystery series by T A Williams. Set in Italy with lots of foodie stuff--yum! Retired DCI Armstrong and his sidekick, Oscar, a black Labrador, romp around Italy solving mysteries. Too much fun!

The Phoenix of Florence

by Philip Kazan 

The Phoenix of Florence by Philip Kazan is set in 16th century Italy. I was absolutely blown away by this book, which wasn't at all what I was expecting I can't say too much about the plot, because--spoilers. It's best for a reader to go into this book knowing nothing. Lots of surprises.

Chronicles of St Mary's series 

by Jodi Taylor

Last but by no means least, is Jodi Taylor's glorious Chronicles of St Mary's series, which is about a bunch of time-travelling historians. (Yes, I have been living under a rock since the first book was published some years ago.) This series is totally bonkers in the best possible way. The plots are endlessly surprising. Very highly recommended if you like something a bit different.

Alexandra Almond

According to Goodreads, I’ve glommed 172 books this year. Here's my sci-fi and fantasy highlights. 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi 

by Shannon Chakraborty

Amina is a middle-aged pirate heroine with a bung knee. This book has everything you want in an alt-history piratical romp: queer rep, found family, morally dodgy likeable characters, fantasy mixed with real world, boats, a bit of romance.

In Other Lands 

by Sarah Rees Brennan

Elliot goes to magic school and finds himself best friends with elven warrior Serene and her partner in being-best-at-war-games Luke. Given Elliot is a sarcastic, pacifist bookworm, this makes for interesting times. It’s a play on the portal fantasy / magic school tropes and it’s beautifully done.

Yield Under Great Persuasion 

by Alexandra Rowland

Tam is a grumpy self-despising tea-shop owner who has been sleeping with Lyford for 10 years and pretending it means nothing. I loved pretty much everything about it; the magic, the characters, the quests, the emotional growth, the word “cock” in the first line, the fact it’s all about communication.

Swordcrossed 

by Freya Marske

Workaholic and family-loving Matti hires debonair con-man Luca to be the sword-wielding best man at his marriage of convenience. That goes pretty much as you’d expect…

The Left Hand of Darkness 

by Ursula Le Guin

I can’t believe it’s taken me until now to read this masterpiece that was written before I was born and talks about gender and sexuality and nationalism and civilisation in ways that feel provocative today. I loved it.

Red Side Story 

by Jasper Fforde

This makes the list because it’s the sequel to Shades Of Grey and I waited FOURTEEN YEARS for it! Jasper Fforde’s imagination is extraordinary. Don’t start here; it will make no sense without reading the first one.

The Ghost Brigades (Old Man’s War #2) 

by John Scalzi

I read the whole series and this one was the standout because of the main character, Jared. The themes were around choice and free will, and I absolutely loved how it played out even though I cried for most of the last part and ended up completely heartbroken.

Eleni Konstantine

I reached my 70 book reading goal in the nick of time. My top three genres were urban fantasy/ paranormal romance (20 books) followed by romantic suspense / mysteries etc (12 books), and Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy romance (10 books). 

I have a huge TBR pile but did listen to audiobooks borrowed from the library, especially for new to me authors. I did try and read books in a series that I had started, but found I started new ones too - oh, dear me, I'm so behind. 

I find nearly every book I read makes me think about aspects of life in different ways, even the romcoms. 

Ilona Andrews

First of all, the author I read most was Ilona Andrews, and I should say I listened to the audiobooks.

I love the humour, wit, action, and adventure of these books. The world building is always well done, intricate and interesting. The characters witty, complex and likeable. 

The Hidden Legacy series 

This series is set in a contemporary world but is filled with magic family Houses that compete to be the  most powerful in magic, talent, and resources. The first three books are the eldest sister Nevada's story with Rogan. Next are the middle sister, Catalina's story with Alessandro. This is what I started reading this year. The series continues to have a great mystery, action, humour, and political intrigue. I listened to the audiobooks of  Diamond Fire (novella, book 3.5) and Sapphire Flames (book 4), and Emerald Blaze (book 5). The narrator, Emily Rankin, does a great job with her beats, especially when humour is involved. I'm looking forward to listening to the last book in Catalina and Alessandro's story with Ruby Fever.

 

Bayou Moon

Bayou Moon is the second book in The Edge series. The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken (aka our world), and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny. Those in The Edge and in the Weird, know about the different words; it's only those in the Broken who don't. Not everyone can go from the magical Weird to the Broken. The Edge has both technology and magic. This story is based on Cerise and her clan defending her lands in the swamp that is in the Edge. William gets caught up with this. There are a lot of different creatures, a lot of violence, and a lot of one liners. 

While I enjoyed this and the budding romance, I didn't enjoy it as much as the Hidden Legacy series books. Each book has a different couple. 

Clean Sweep 

Clean Sweep is book one in the Innkeeper Chronicles. While I'd read the book a couple of years ago, I wanted to listen to the dramatised adaptation from Graphic Audio, and I wasn't disappointed. These adaptions have the main narrator but also other cast members saying the dialogue of their characters. In the background, there is music and sounds pertaining to the story. It takes a little getting used to, but this was a great book to listen to this way, so much so I'll listen to the rest of the series this way (I just finished book 2 but that's a 2025 read).  

The series contains elements of urban fantasy and science fiction, with the Inn being a living, breathing entity that no-one really understands. However, Inn Keepers form a bond and provide their off-world guests with sanctuary. There's magic, aliens, a Shih Tzu named Beast, and a werewolf who is new to this 'world'.  Humans on Earth don't know the Inn's true purpose nor about the rest of the galaxy being littered with lifeforms. It's quirky, fun, has mystery, action, and a budding romance. 

Romantasy

I read a few romantasy books as I'd not really gotten into the genre since it's rise during Covid. I'd been hearing for ages all good things about Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros. So, why not? I'm used to reading fantasy with a lot of characters with multiple point of views, so it was interesting reading fantasies in first person of only one character, and a huge focus being on the romances.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

by Sarah J. Maas

I enjoyed this first book in the series about Feyre and her struggles to feed her family, and then being whisked to faerie as a payment for killing a shapeshifting wolf. There's intrigue - why are they wearing jewelled masks all the time?-  a growing attraction, and a sense of growing contentment. But then danger ensues and everything changes, with the darkness and cruelty on full display. Feyre fights for her love, and she goes through hell. Because this is the first in the series, I knew things would get more complicated. I had a bad feeling when a character showed up in, so I know this series would have more twists until the end. I'm not going to spoil by stating what I mean. But if you like strong willed heroines, magic, and political intrigue, you'll like this book. I've heard the series just gets better, and I'm currently listening to book 2 and I have to agree so far it has. 

Fourth Wing

by Rebecca Yarros

Dragons. That's what attracted me to this book. Then I admired Violet continuing to work at being a dragon rider despite her brittle body. She's smart having trained to become a scribe, but follows her new path with gusto. I loved the dragon bond, and seeing her relationships grow. She has enemies too, and she must be one step ahead to survive. The dragon quadrant is brutal. Death is a regular occurrence and hangs over the head of every student. The romance is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope. There's a lot of quips and snakiness, which I could contend with seeing they were in the early 20s. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 to follow the political intrigue, and find out more about the world beyond their realm's borders. 

Other romantasies I read were:

• Fall of Ruin and Wrath (The Awakening 1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• The Prisoner’s Throne  (Novels of Efthame 2)  by Holly Black 
• The Song of the Marked (Shadows and Crowns 1) by S.M. Gathier 
• The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars 1) by Thea Guanzon

I enjoyed these especially the Holly Black and S.M. Gathier books. 

 I have more romantasy waiting to be read.

Fantasy YA

Vespertine 

by Margaret Rogerson

Of course, the first thing I loved was the name, Artemisia. Spoke to my Greek heart. 

The world was fascinating with Artemisia training to be a Gray Sister and cleanses the bodies of the dead, so their souls move on and not become spirits that crave the living. Of course everything changes, and an ancient spirit gets bound to her. She has to fight this snarky revenant to obey her, and learns to use her new power. There's intrigue and a growing relationship between the revenant and Artemisia that makes her question everything she knows. Which has us questioning everything she knows too. 

RomComs

It's been a long time since I've read some RomComs and two that were stand outs were:

 The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Both are cleverly done, with a lot of laugh out loud moments. Both are based on telling lies for perfectly valid reasons, and the hilarity that can follow after. Of course there's the romance, with both of these being more on the sweet side, and the HEAs too. Fun reads and were exactly what I needed at the time of reading them. 

 

Another book that had comedy elements was 

The Perfectly Simple Complicated Life of Maggie Halloran

by Trish Morey

It's a women's fiction with both romantic and comedic elements, that was done so well in both story and characters. Totally amazing read. It grabbed me from the first. A book of the simply complicated organism that is family. I relished this book with its wit, humour, family relationships, and romance. Set in Cornwall, Maggie's perfect life has a hiccup or two or three. 

DarkSider books

and lastly, I continued to read DarkSider books, though not as many as I wanted. 

As usual, my fellow DarkSiders had books that I enjoyed to read, mainly for their characters and the situations they found themselves in. There are kick butt heroines, worthy heroes, romances that make you swoon, and plenty of action or intrigue. They're listed in order of reading.

• Darkness Falls (Dark Angels 7) by Keri Arthur (Fab end to this UF series)

• Finn (Hell Squad 10) by Anna Hackett (sci-fi romance in futuristic NSW with lots of action and sex)

• Fallen Angel (Detectives Kane and Alton 13) by D.K. Hood (serial killer at a writer's conference in the snowed in mountains) 

• Heart of Gold (The Clockwork Mysteries 2) by Lilliana Rose (Victorian steampunk)

• Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace 7) by Keri Arthur (witch and werewolf paranormal romance series set on a werewolf reservation)

• Envy (The Deadly Seven 1) by Lana Pecherczyk (superhero vigilantes who each anthropomorphise a sin)

• A Perfectly Paranormal Valentine (Perfectly Paranormal Anthologies 1) contains stories by DarkSiders Hellucy Howe (Filagree and Fate), Leisl Leighton (Love Cursed), and Samantha Marshall (Cat Nip) (paranormal romances with fae, curses, and shifters)

• Phantasia - a Bad Day on Olympus (Phi Athanatoi 2) by Efthalia (Greek gods, demi-gods, vampires and shapeshifters in contemporary world, and a crazy yiayia to provide the comic relief)

• The Finding (The Mendovan Alliance Chronicles 1) by Angelica Grymm (Human heroine kidnapped and taken to the other side of the galaxy, purchased by an 'elf' hero)

• Nothing to Hide (Blackbridge 3) by Claire Boston (romantic suspense with a sweet romance between an outgoing heroine and reserved hero, with plenty of intrigue)

    

  

 

There were many more enjoyable reads from 2024 including:

• Fury (Menagerie 3) by Rachel Vincent  (fear of the other; surprising end to the series)

• Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (looking at life and death)

• Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling 5) by Nalini Singh (paranormal romance goodness)

• Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake 3) by Victoria E. Schwab (middle grade ghost seeing heroine)

• The Sandman, Vol. 10: The Wake by Neil Gaiman et al (surreal and totally off kilter. End to the series) 

• The Slide to Run (Daughters of Disgrace 2) by Bronwyn Stuart (historical romance looking at characters not in ballrooms but on the fringes of polite society)

 

  

I'm hoping to finish more series before starting new ones. Since most of my books are older on my TBR pile (with more being added everyday), in many cases the whole series is available, but because I want to spread the reading love around, I tend not to read all the series in a row. Instead I read one or two a year, but in some cases longer in between the books. So I want to change this while the storylines are fresher in my mind. With me luck!

We wish you all a fantastic reading year in 2025!