(2) YA A fanciful treat set in the 1590s, Cotter's debut novel takes us from London's Rose Theatre to the court of Elizabeth I, onto the ship of famed pirate queen Grainne Ni Mhaille, and off to a trial at Dover Castle. Aptly, an excerpt of Elizabethan love poetry opens most sections of the story. Although this is a tale of traitors, murder, spying, poison, play-acting, and breathless risks and escapes, it is also the love story of actor and commoner Elias Wilde, his farming family made destitute by the queen, and Lord James Edmund Bauffremont of Bloomsbury: would-be medical man, scion of a brutal father, and reluctant fiancé of a noblewoman. When Elias witnesses the savage murder of his friend Kit Marlowe, he vows to unmask the culprit. He thus comes into the employ of Lord Bloomsbury and finds himself disguised as a lord, ineffectually sleuthing but somehow winning the good graces of the queen, who appoints him and Bloomsbury her spymasters. Their career is one of wrong turns, misinterpretations, and bad judgments; what runs steadily through all the novel's eventfulness is Elias's fraught emotion: his forlorn urge to find his family and his growing passion and confidence in James's love. Cotter packs many sly literary and historical references into this playfully far-fetched queer tale, along with much romance and affection.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) YA In this historical novel set in eighteenth-century Korea, Baek-hyeon, despite her low social status, has recently attained the coveted position of palace nurse when she and a friend encounter a mass murder scene at the public medical office: four young nurses have been killed. Suspicion is cast upon the Crown Prince as the possible perpetrator, and the list of victims grows as the murderer runs free. Hyeon and handsome, stoic police inspector Eojin work together to catch the criminal, uncovering forbidden love and royal family secrets along the way. Exciting and fast-paced, this unusual detective story transports readers to Korea's Joseon Dynasty, providing (per the author's note) one version of the tragic true story of Crown Prince Jangheon. Though some readers may find the Korean vocabulary difficult to keep track of, its frequent use to set the cultural context is a testament to Hur's dedication in researching Korea's complex history. Romance, adventure, and mystery keep pages turning, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to Hyeon's smarts, ambition, and strong will.

Reviewer: Gabi K. Huesca | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(4) YA American Evie comes to Oxford for college and begins a whirlwind romance with Prince Edmund of the British royal family. While they struggle to maintain their relationship in the face of Edmund's celebrity, Evie discovers secrets in her own family tree. Despite predictable plot points and shallow characterizations, this royal romance hits the right genre notes for fans of The Princess Diaries.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) YA Odysseys in Government series. Designed for advanced middle-school readers and up, this series focusing on four well-known government systems aims to increase understanding of the basic concepts on which each ideology is based. Readers are encouraged to compare and contrast policies and practices and acquire information about important leaders. Glossy photographs and art, a roomy page layout, and inserts on related topics increase interest. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Odysseys in Government titles: Communism, Dictatorship, Monarchy, and Democracy.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg