Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What I liked: 

The characters the story the plot everything.  I love everything about the premise and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.  It's no wonder there was such a back log for it on Libby.

What I loved:

The setting, the changing points of view, the beginning, middle and the end! Everything!  I love me a run down old house in the middle of no where.  I love me a room of full of people who know each other and hate each other but having to work together.  I love a story where a character is reliving the same day at different angles.  I played Shadow of Destiny and enjoyed every bleeding minute of it.

What I would have changed?

Well there are some very specific places I would have changed what happened.  For one, I know they needed to save The Butler (who is never named) from the footman, but couldn't he figure out a way to do that without beating the man half to death and rendering two of hosts helpless until the end of the day?  

I grant that it was helpful for The Butler to be in the right place to save Anna at the end of story.  But I can't help but think that the Butler could have been put to much better use moving around the house, and talking to the people behind the scenes.  As demonstrated in the Blanch White series, the help has their pulse on everything going on in the house.  Who knows how much faster Aiden and Lucy could have reached a conclusion had the Butler not been so violently incapacitated.  

Second, leaving Derby just standing out in a field after everything that happened until footman found him?  That was a little off to me.  It was already established that the boy was ADD and the best should have smoking.  But why leave him just dumb struck a field to be murdered by surprise?  Even if he was in shock, later the detective could have called him as back up.  He'd have come eagerly.  Then when the footman got the jump on them Derby would have been there and he would have had a fighting chance.

But other than those two situations I am perfectly happy with this book.  I read in twice already, back to back.  Not just a good read, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a GREAT read!

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The Mercy Thomas Book Series

 

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

   The  Mercy Thomas Book series is among my favorite guilty pleasures.  It has everything I love.  Dark fantasy, murder mysteries, mythological beings living in a modern setting, and a pretty kick ass main character.  I can almost stomach all the romance because it's wrapped around such captivating storylines.  If you're a fan of Charmed, Grimm, or Supernatural you'll love these books too.  Also try the Alpha and Omega Series by the same author.  

Patricia Briggs is an American writer and a lover of beasts great and small.  She lives in Montana on a horse ranch with her family.  She seems like a pretty cool lady and I hope to meet her someday.  

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My Black History Pick for 2025

Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

   Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler

    This is such an incredible book that I just need to spotlight it on all of my social medias!  

    Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler is a book of poetry about my favorite writer by my new favorite poet Ibi Zoboi.  This New York Times Bestselling Author first caught my attention with an excellent blurb on back of this astonishing book cover written artistically into the shape of a star:

    Star Child

    Estelle is her Middle Name.  Estelle means "star"- a bright shining light at the highest point on a pyramid, or a tree, or a solar system.  There to remind us to look above our heads and witness the wonder of the sky like an ocean-blue blanket, or a glittered canopy, guarding the secrets of other worlds.  And like a star, she was born to listen to the whisper of the universe, to father the constellations and weave them into stories."

    If you are a fan of Octavia E. Butler, then you understand exactly what she means in this poem. 

    If you're not a fan, or if you've somehow have never heard of her let me enlighten you.  Octavia E. Butler was a black American science fiction writer who wrote stories featuring black protagonists in fantastic, powerful, and sometimes dreadful roles.  

    Her work is inspiring, profound, intense, and sometimes horrifying.  She is loved and studied by people all over the world.  Her sudden dead in 2006 left her work in complete and her fans devastated.  I did not discover her until 2009 on an epode of the Drabblecast.  I weep for what I missed out ever being able to meet her.

        Octavia E. Butler seemed to have insight into the future, into other words, into our very souls.  She made unique connections between the human soul and the stars. And she did so in plane simple language that touched plane simple people and inspired them to really see, to think honestly and critically, and love with boundaries.  

        Ibi Zoboi's Star Child is an autobiography of Octavia E. Butler written in poetry.  It's amazing to learn so much about my favorite author is such a elegant and easy to understand way - where she came from and how she became.... the amazing thought leader she did in the unique way that only poetry can provide.  

    I honestly don't think I really understood the power of good poetry until I read this book.  Ibi Zoboi is a real artist.  

Please Check out Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler from your local library.  Or try my Amazon Associates Links.

Have you read anything by Ibi Zoboi?  Please suggest what you think I should read next!  Leave comment here on any of social media pages.  I'm Bluesky, Facebook, and Goodreads

I'm Porsche B. Yeary and I hope to see you on the Next page

Other books you may also like to try:

 By Octavia E. Butler

Kindred - most popular

Bloodchild - Recommended for first timers, and YA

Lilith's Brood - Recommended for hard core science fiction fans who have "read it all". 

Parable of the Sower - Read with caution. If you read Dune and 1984 and you're looking for more, have at it.  Not for the faint though.  The Parable Series may inspire you to pick up a cause, join a protest, or get involved in Civil Disobedience.  

Fledgling  - Thought provoking vampire fiction featuring a young black vampire and her fight for equality among the undead.  Octavia's last book.

By Ibo Zoboi

I haven't read any of these yet, but after reading Star Child I sure plan to read more.  

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America

Nigera Jones

(S)kin

Pride: a Pride and Prejudice Remix

The People Remember

  

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