There was Music

I’ll say upfront: There Was Music is a hard book to read. There was more suffering between its pages than any single person should have to endure. Certainly more than I thought there would be when I saw it described as fantasy. Yet it is absolutely a worthwhile read, since that kind of pain transiti......more

J.D. Grubb gives us a very artsy and fascinating look at survival in a unique fantasy world with There Was Music! Prisoner 43-1-12 must survive in the strange war torn world of Illirium, a place filled with danger and supernatural creatures. The world Grubb created is fascinating and imaginative, bu......more

A tale of hard won redemption and healing First, a warning, this book is not for the faint of heart. Pay attention to the author’s trigger warning at the start. This well written and tightly crafted novel begins by interweaving flashbacks of a young girl named Rhoda and the horrors experienced by a......more

I felt an instant connection with the main character. Although the first 30% was a little disorienting with strong sexual assault themes that made my skin crawl, once I found my bearings, it was impossible to put down. The book can be seen as a series of conversations, each a glimpse into another per......more

How do we address trauma? When it is presented to us, we often shy away from it in uncomfortable silence. This book does not shy away. The horrors and abuses that the protagonist undergoes are not shy and she is not shy in the telling either. But despite the cruelty of the new kingdom that is put in......more