Search This Blog







2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (2)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (8)
- Colorado (2)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (2)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maine (4)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (5)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (3)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (3)
- Wyoming(1)
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (7)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (3)
- England (24)
- Fiji (1)
- France (1)
- Ireland (3)
- Italy (2)
- Mexico (1)
- Morocco (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)





2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge








Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo



2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge





Showing posts with label Regina Sirois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regina Sirois. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2021
Despite Intriguing Premise, Historical Novel is a Slllooowww, Forced-Myself-to-Finish-It Read
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Propriety is important in Victorian England. Just not to eccentric surgeon Dr. Horace Croft. Ever since he took in Nora Beady—an 8-year-old orphan—he's been teaching and training her. Now 21, she's an invaluable medical assistant as well as a gifted surgeon in her own right. Capable as she is, even Dr. Croft realizes that Nora's interest in medicine would be seen by outsiders as shocking, manly, and unnatural. It must be kept secret at all costs. When Croft brings a young doctor into his practice, Nora fears she will be found out. Forced to act like a proper lady, hiding her ability in the surgery, she feels like she's going mad. When she makes an important discovery, one that could change medicine forever, Nora is torn between offending society by revealing her true self and boldly claiming her own discovery instead of letting the men around her take credit. Is she brave enough to risk everything by finally stepping out of the shadows into the spotlight?
With its striking cover and intriguing premise, how could I not be drawn to The Girl in His Shadow, a debut novel by Audrey Blake (a pseudonym for writing duo Regina Sirois and Jaima Fixsen)? I've seen rave reviews as well, so I was eager to read it. Its subject—the role of women in early medicine—is certainly fascinating. Though gory, the book's depictions of 19th Century efforts to learn about disease and how to treat it makes for interesting reading. As for the story, though? It's sllooowwww. Without a structured plot to keep it focused and forward-moving, the tale drags, making it very putdownable. The characters are likable, but not super complex or memorable, which contributes to the meh-ness of the novel. While Nora is sympathetic and kind, she lacks the vulnerability that makes me really root for a character. I felt like she would be fine no matter what and that, while the back cover copy touts how much risk she takes in the story, in actuality she never really risks or loses very much. That made it tough for me to care about what happened to her, meaning I just never got all that invested in her or this book. I did plow through The Girl in His Shadow, but that's exactly what the reading experience felt like: work. I wanted to really like this one; unfortunately, I had to force myself to finish it. Bummer.
(Readalikes: The premise reminds me of the Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber, The Madman's Daughter series by Megan Shepherd, and Mistress in the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Girl in His Shadow from the generous folks at Sourcebooks via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Thin Plot + Whiny Heroine = Ho Hum, But Hopeful YA Novel
8:44 PM
(Image from Amazon)
Megan Riddick should have died when she was two years old. The only reason she's still alive is because Bryon Exby saved her, sacrificing his own life in the process. Now 16, Megan's a quiet, serious honor student who only feels truly comfortable when onstage performing school plays. Which doesn't mean she needs more drama in her life. But that's just what she gets when Charlotte Exby—Bryon's 14-year-old daughter—enrolls at Megan's high school. Thanks to Megan, Charlotte never knew her father. And she's not happy about that.
Although the girls don't exactly hit it off, the pair reluctantly decide to work together to fulfill the bucket list Bryon drafted prior to his death. In the process, they learn some important lessons about friendship, family, and things both fragile and fierce.
If the plot summary for The Truth About Fragile Things by Regina Sirois seems a little thin, that's because it is. The novel has no real driving plot, which makes the story rather episodic and unfocused. Which isn't to say the book isn't interesting or compelling. It is; the threads of the novel just feel as if they're very, very loosely woven together. Megan, our heroine, isn't overly likable. She's "fragile," which seems to mean she has to be whiny, melodramatic, and helpless. While these things definitely bug, The Truth About Fragile Things is, overall, a hopeful novel with some thoughtful insight. It's not a book that's really stuck with me, but it's not a bad one either.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)

Readin'
Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
Listenin'
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
The Wild Season9 hours ago
-
Big Books of Summer Challenge wrap-up10 hours ago
-
-
-
-
20+ Kids Breakfast Ideas17 hours ago
-
-
TTT- Favorite Indie Authors17 hours ago
-
-
-
Top Ten Tuesday: Indie Books on My TBR18 hours ago
-
Eight Thoughts on the Hardcover App19 hours ago
-
-
-
Sheer by Vanessa Lawrence1 day ago
-
Fruit Fly by Josh Silver1 day ago
-
Frankel, Laurie "Family Family"1 day ago
-
-
The Tailor by Tim Sullivan1 day ago
-
-
-
Chase Me If You Can2 days ago
-
Week in Review #374 days ago
-
Books read in August4 days ago
-
-
-
-
Seasonal TBR: Fall1 week ago
-
-
Sparked My Interest: August 20262 weeks ago
-
-
-
Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney7 months ago
-
-
Sunday Post #5681 year ago
-
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 years ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?2 years ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction


