Mar 22 2024

Bizard And The Big Bunny Bizness by Chrissie Krebs

Now that Bizard the Bear Wizard (as Bear’s friends have dubbed him in the aftermath of getting a wizard’s wish-granting wand stuck on his head, unicorn-style) has saved the forest, he’s very much looking forward to enjoying his impending hibernation. But what will the other forest denizens do about getting their wishes granted while he’s fast asleep?

Bear himself is torn: he wants to help his fellow woodland creatures but a good winter’s sleep is something every bear should get to luxuriate in. Enter Squirrel, who is more than happy to step in to fill the void. All Bear has to do is wish for a wand for Squirrel to use while Bear hibernates. Surely, nothing could possibly go wrong!

Ofc, Fox and Owl — being much more sensible than the enthusiastic Squirrel — have their concerns. The friends decide on a test run of this backup wand, with one caveat: wishes may only be granted if Squirrel, Fox and Owl all agree on the outcome. A satisfied Bear goes back to bed, and the grand experiment begins.

At first, everything goes well, even if Squirrel does seem to care more about what he can do vs what the wisher actually wants. But Squirrel soon grows restless, and decides to go out into the forest granting wishes instead of waiting for supplicants to come to Bear’s cave. Fox and Owl do their best to tag along and temper Squirrel’s more enthusiastic impulses, but when a different sort of temper gets the best of Squirrel, certain disaster — in the form of a giant baby bunny — soon threatens the peace and happiness of the forest’s animals. Will our trio of friends be able to fix everything while Bear naps, or will they have to call in more than just their usual coterie of allies?

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/22/bizard-and-the-big-bunny-bizness-by-chrissie-krebs/

Mar 20 2024

The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo (EXCERPT)

Back in December 2021, I had the pleasure of reviewing Steven Max Russo’s second novel, The Dead Don’t Sleep. Now, we’ve been given the opportunity to give you a sneak peek of his latest novel, The Debt Collector, publishing today!

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Abigail Barnes is young, pretty and petite, but her looks and size can be deceiving. A drifter who makes her living collecting outstanding debts for low-end bookies and loan sharks, Abigail arrives in Hackensack, NJ, from Baltimore, MD, and gets a job collecting for a small-time bookie, who winds up dead.

With a large Wall Street firm moving into town bringing jobs, prestige, and money, the press is soon up in arms about the killing. So the cops to put the squeeze on Ronnie “Slacks” Falcone, a mobster who heads organized crime in the Jersey City area, to help find the killer.

Soon Abigail finds herself being sought by a gang of hoodlums, the mob, and the police. She knows she can’t run and she won’t turn herself in because she has a past that could send her to jail. She has little choice but to try and find out who killed the bookie – without getting killed in the process.

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Read on for an excerpt from The Debt Collector’s very first chapter!

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/20/the-debt-collector-by-steven-max-russo-excerpt/

Mar 19 2024

The Inventor, Vol. 1: The Dangerous Discovery by Lars Henrik Eriksen

Hahaha, omg, Linnea is a much better person than I am, I would never want to speak to Cobalt again after what happens mid-way in this book!

But before we get there, this graphic novel — with strong overtones of both Hayao Miyazaki and Pokemon properties — tells the tale of Cobalt Cogg, a young man who wants to grow up to be an inventor just like his grandfather. Grandpa is already viewed with some suspicion by the other inhabitants of Mata-Mata. Despite having brought electricity to the island, Grandpa Alfred is considered something of a menace. While his inventions do make life easier for the islanders, many of them are viewed with distrust, especially by Mayor Barlind, the dad of Linnea, Cobalt’s best friend. Mayor Barlind is a traditionalist through and through, and believes that the dangers of Alfred’s gizmos don’t necessarily outweigh the benefits that they bring.

Cobalt and Linnea, ofc, do not share the mayor’s concerns. But a freak accident causes Alfred to be banished from the island, and the friends grow up over the next five years without his presence. When Cobalt finally assembles all the pieces he needs to follow the blueprints Alfred left behind for him, he inadvertently shorts out the power supply that has miraculously run untended for the duration of Alfred’s absence. With Linnea’s help, he finds a solution… but also a greater mystery. Is the map that Cobalt found in Alfred’s abandoned lab showing him where his grandfather is now? There’s only one way for our young inventor to find out!

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/19/the-inventor-vol-1-the-dangerous-discovery-by-lars-henrik-eriksen/

Mar 18 2024

Pretty Simple Coloring: Joy by Adams Media

subtitled 45 Easy-To-Color Pages Inspired By Whimsy And Fun. With bonus review of Pretty Simple Coloring: Love: 45 Easy-To-Color Pages Inspired By Happiness And Love, as the publicist generously sent me a copy of that book, as well!

Adult coloring books are still going strong, with the market increasingly diversifying to cater to various interests and skill levels. This often means greater detail in the books’ artwork, which also means more time and effort spent on the process: awesome for people who want to go into that level of detail, but maybe a little too complicated for those of us who just want to make something pretty without having to think too hard about it or, worse, work too hard at it. Coloring, for me at least, is a meditative process with a creative outcome. Having a sore hand at the end of the page feels a bit counterproductive.

So it was something of a relief to be offered books featuring pieces that are genuinely easy to color, without sacrificing beauty or even too much artistic complexity. Even within each volume there are different amounts of line- and pattern-work, so you can choose to color as broadly or in as much detail as you please. In general, however, the shapes are large and clear, allowing for the addition of detail should you wish to, but not losing anything in loveliness should you not.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/18/pretty-simple-coloring-joy-by-adams-media/

Mar 15 2024

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

First of all, the No-Girlfriend Rule is bullshit. If you’re new to role-playing games and are told that your partner’s group doesn’t allow girlfriends, I don’t want you to have to spend time reading this (excellent) book to learn that that “rule” is manifest garbage, and you either need to find a new partner or your partner needs to find a better group. The only valid reasons for a GM not wanting you to join a table is a) they have their upper limit of players already, or b) they don’t think your personality would be a good fit. Option b does indeed suck, but it’s valid. Not everyone likes everyone else, but to pretend that the reason is “ew, girlfriends” is super cowardly.

That said, you should really read this book, especially if you’re interested in gaming and are part of a traditionally underrepresented group in the hobby. So, basically, not a straight-passing cis white dude, tho straight-passing cis white dudes are absolutely encouraged to read this, too! Actually, every gamer or budding gamer should read this, so they know what’s acceptable behavior (Gloria’s group) and what’s not (Landon’s group, ugggh) when it comes to RPGs.

Anyway, the story itself is about Hollis, who’s wanted to be a part of her boyfriend Chris’ Secrets & Sorcery group for years. His Secret Keeper (basically the Dungeon Master) Landon is all “no girlfriends allowed”. Landon, unsurprisingly, is a colossal asshole. But as their senior year of high school starts, Hollis feels insecure about moving too far apart from Chris, and decides that she needs to learn more about his favorite hobby even if he won’t actually include her in it.

This leads to an unfortunate experience at a local game store (and hooooo boy, did I want to punch some of the stereotypical but not at all uncommon role-players she met there in the face) before she stumbles across a recruitment call for a girl- and LGBTQ+-friendly group. Gloria is the Secret Keeper for this group, which consists of her younger sister Fran, glamorous influencer Maggie, over-achieving Iffy and effortlessly cool Aini. They welcome Hollis in, even as Hollis herself isn’t sure whether she’ll be able to be “good” enough for the people she now finds herself surrounded by.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/15/the-no-girlfriend-rule-by-christen-randall/

Mar 14 2024

I’ll See You In Ijebu by Bunmi Emenanjo & Diana Ejaita

After reading this wonderful, tender memoir of childhood — so close to my own yet so vastly different — I finally understood how it feels to suffer from anemoia, a longing for a past I never actually knew. Is there a separate thing for when you wish this was your past, that this could have been your past if only circumstances were different, if the world were a better place? I’m not one to indulge in pointless nostalgia but this book made me truly wistful for a childhood not my own.

I’ll See You In Ijebu is author Bunmi Emenanjo’s recollection of her own childhood in Nigeria. While she lived with her Catholic family in Lagos, they often went to Ijebu, several hours’ drive away, to visit her mother’s Muslim family, especially for celebrations like Eid. This book describes the time when she was finally eight, old enough to start helping to prepare food for the Eid al-Adha feast, something young Olubunmi had been looking forward to for years. From the hustle of traffic leaving the capital, to the food both at home and in Ijebu, to Olubunmi’s thoughts on spending time with her extended family, this is a tale told with copious amounts of both care and love.

It’s a simple enough story, but the richness of detail really grounds the narrative, contributing to that (my) feeling of anemoia. The narrative prose is interspersed with paragraphs of blank verse that often incorporate Yoruba (and sometimes Hausa?) words to more faithfully portray the rhythms of Nigerian life. Diana Ejaita’s exquisite block-print-inspired art is the perfect complement to the words, capturing the bustle and color of the tale. Honestly, this is one of the best combinations of prose and art I’ve seen in a while: I was so impressed by how beautifully everything worked together!

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/14/ill-see-you-in-ijebu-by-bunmi-emenanjo-diana-ejaita/

Mar 13 2024

The Everywhere Atom by Christine Shearer & Kaz Clarke

subtitled A Journey Through The Carbon Cycle And Climate Change.

Honestly, with a title like that, you wouldn’t think that the contents would be as engrossing as they are, but this is genuinely one of the best science books for kids I’ve ever read. Heck, it explained things I hadn’t even known, and I consider myself reasonably well-informed when it comes to climate science, geology and organic chemistry.

The Everywhere Atom of the title is carbon. With accessible, clear language; cute illustrations, and hilarious asides, author Christine Shearer and illustrator Kaz Clarke brilliantly explain what the carbon cycle is and how it affects climate change, taking the reader from prehistory all the way up to the present. The book also talks about carbon-free alternatives to the fossil fuel consumption that is currently warming up the planet to disastrous effect, as well as what steps kids can take to help enact change in their own communities and, eventually, the world.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/13/the-everywhere-atom-by-christine-shearer-kaz-clarke/

Mar 12 2024

Market Day by Miranda Harmon

Oh, wow, I’m playing in a Wild Beyond The Witchlight campaign right now, and this is like the perfect G-rated accompaniment to the Carnival that more or less opens the proceedings!

Bright, colorful and filled with magic, Market Day is the story of anthropomorphic animals selling and buying wares at a day-long market. Ginger, Cinnamon and Nutmeg are the namesakes of 3 Kittens Bakery, the market stand run by their mom and serving all sorts of delicious baked goods. After a long morning of learning how to help Mom sell goodies and help customers, they’re sent off to enjoy the market with some coins and a bag of pastries to barter. Mom does tell them that they have to be back by sunset for a magical surprise!

As the kittens explore the market, grabbing some lunch and oohing and aahing over the assortment of items for sale, they decide that they want to get Mom a gift, too. But what to get, and what to do when their budget doesn’t seem to quite cover their desires? Worst of all, what will happen if they get lost and can’t figure out how to get back to Mom in time for the surprise?

This was a very cute, very colorful exploration of basic commerce in a cozy setting. Perhaps weirdly, I found it a much easier read when not trying to get my youngest to read along with me. While he is usually a big fan of both cats and baked goods — and has recently shown interest in playing pretend store — this book just didn’t engage him. I think he was a little confused by the kittens, whose identities only emerge over the course of the book. I also think he had a bit of a sensory overload with all the characters and all the stalls and bright colors.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/12/market-day-by-miranda-harmon/

Mar 11 2024

Sharp Wit And The Company Of Women edited by Michele Abounader

A Wave Blue World goes from strength to strength with this, their latest comics anthology focusing on women, blades and sapphic love.

As with any anthology, there’s a broad range of subject and subjective quality, meant to appeal to all tastes while still revolving around the central theme. More importantly, Sharp Wit And The Company Of Woman does an amazing job of spotlighting upcoming comics writers and artists who might not yet have hit the mainstream but who are sure to make a big splash when they do.

For this review, I’m just gonna focus on my own favorites and go through them in order, so apologies for any repetition in my reasons for enjoyment — I could arrange everything thematically, but honestly my brain is a little fried right now from all the reading I’ve done this weekend. I personally felt that this volume only really got going with Joan, Nineteen by Lillian Hochwender, Filipa Catalao Coelho and Kielamel Sibal. While the opening comics were your fairly standard tales of tormented women warriors — if anything, the stories they were trying to convey felt underexplored and unfortunately limited by the short format — this was the first one that felt to me like a complete snapshot, perfectly conveying the struggles of a young girl in our modern age who can’t help comparing herself to St Joan of Arc, for very good reason.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/11/sharp-wit-and-the-company-of-women-edited-by-michele-abounader/

Mar 07 2024

Table Titans Club by Scott Kurtz

Y’all. Y’ALL! So many books about girls getting into D&D focus way too much on nonsensical interpersonal drama that often reveals the author’s inability to process their own emotions, but this? THIS?! Is the best book on being a young female roleplayer I’ve read in possibly forEVER.

Val Winters is less than thrilled to be moving to a new city and a new school yet again. Her mom promises that the move to this city should be the last one, what with her new job providing greater stability than before. And if Val can stay out of trouble and not get into fights, then this should be her last school transfer for a good long while too.

Thing is, Val is kind of a dreamer, with a healthy imagination and a disregard for social appropriateness. She’s also smart as a whip, and not afraid to get physical when the situation calls for it. When a chance remark prompts one of her new classmates to invite her to join their school-sponsored D&D game — to the dismay of several of their peers — this sets her on a journey of discovery and friendship that will make life better for the entire Table Titans Club, as her new group of friends is called.

Hand to God, Val reminds me of me at that age (and maybe also at this age, lol.) I only wish I’d been lucky enough to be able to join an RPG group in middle school. I loved Val’s courage and her utter disregard for not standing out. Perhaps even more importantly, I deeply admired Scott Kurtz’ excellent and not at all preachy way of explaining why she’s like this, and why that prompts consternation and sometimes outright hostility from others. Honestly, this is invaluable information for kids who didn’t grow up as bizarrely self-assured as I did.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/03/07/table-titans-club-by-scott-kurtz/