Stuart's Reviews

Attica Locke’s award-winning Highway 59 series is a favorite of contemporary mystery fans, and this sequel to 2017’s Bluebird, Bluebird is another fantastic novel. It again follows black Texas Ranger Darren Mathews deep into East Texas, this time to the swampy bayous of Caddo Lake in search of a missing child who also happens to be the son of a local member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Locke’s characters are complex and her writing is evocatively detailed, suspenseful, and intensely atmospheric. I loved it! - Stuart

I’m so excited for this book! Perfect for fans of Firefly, Becky Chambers, and Catherynne M. Valente, this novel about a family of smugglers caught in an interstellar war—who have to decide whether to take responsibility for their family’s involvement in a devastating massacre or lay low and hope it blows over—is the first of an exciting, suspenseful, and propulsive new space opera trilogy. I can’t wait to read it! - Stuart

L.A.’s Guelaguetza is one of the best Oaxacan restaurants in the country, and this gorgeous cookbook from the restaurant’s founders dives into the heart and soul of Oaxacan cuisine. The book features delicious Oaxacan recipes—from sopas to salsas, moles to sweets—coupled with huge, colorful photographs, and is a must-have for people interested in the cuisine of southwestern Mexico. - Stuart

This engaging wine book from André Mack, the first African American to win the title of Best Young Sommelier in America, is a fun and down-to-earth guide to some of the world’s best wine styles. Mack is a funny, confident, and approachable writer, and 99 Bottles showcases his extensive knowledge of wine while also touching on his own journey from his childhood in San Antonio to his time as a sommelier at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and Per Se restaurants to the launching of his own winery. - Stuart

Children of Blood and Bone was one of my favorite fantasy novels of 2018, and I’ve eagerly awaited the sequel from the moment I finished it. Tomi Adeyemi is one of fantasy’s best new voices—the world building and characters are superbly drawn, gorgeously rendered, and very human: Zélie and Amari are brave, charismatic, at times afraid and unsure, but always willing to rise to the challenges thrown their way. I can’t wait to see where they go next! - Stuart

This is a novel of urgent and aching beauty. It’s a story about coming of age, triumph in the face of tragedy, and the power of magic, love, and dreams—and holding on to those dreams even when the stately order of the world threatens to crush them beneath its grinding wheels. This is a stunning and gorgeously written debut historical fantasy with a ferociously beating heart, and its fabulously drawn characters, outstanding plotting and pacing, and gorgeous world-building will sweep you effortlessly into its story. - Stuart

Perfect for fans of Cormac McCarthy and Paolo Bacigalupi, this gripping, atmospheric, and sparsely beautiful sci-fi novel imagines a near-future Mississippi Gulf Coast ravaged by climate change. The narrative Smith constructs is a bleak one, but this novel features outstanding worldbuilding, fine details, and deeply human characters. - Stuart

Ted Chiang is one of the best modern speculative fiction writers, and his writing encompasses the breadth of the human experience. The stories in this collection are subtle, introspective, and incredibly smart, and Chiang masterfully explores themes of science, theology, fate, heartbreak, and love. I can’t recommend this highly enough for fans of literary science fiction. - Stuart

Sal the Cacophony is a gunslinging wizard-hunter on a mission of vengeance, and—armed with a giant sentient handgun—she’s on the hunt for seven vicious outlaw magicians. This book is brutal and bloody with big battles and lots of action, but also features rich, inventive worldbuilding, snappy dialogue, and characters with surprising humor and heart. I couldn’t put it down! - Stuart

I’m usually too busy to make a meal every night, so my slow cooker has become a godsend. Drew Maresco has made my life even easier with this cookbook, with recipes that are both delicious and extremely easy to prepare. This fantastic cookbook is packed with gorgeous, full-page pictures and covers a wide variety of culinary traditions, and includes vegetarian options. - Stuart