A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Many members of the Russian aristocracy were executed, banished, or fled under cover of darkness. This is the (fictional) story of one under house arrest in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. Count Alexander Rostov cannot step outside of the hotel without fear of being shot on sight. He meets many interesting characters, both long-term workers at the Metropol and regulars at the Boyarski, the high-end restaurant in the hotel. His sudden adoption of a young girl changes everything and he uses his Bolshevik and resistance friends to change his circumstances. 

I almost stopped reading this book because Towles takes too long to convince us why we should like his Count Rostov. Once he hooks us, we're in and desperate to figure out how he can live within the confines of a hotel, in a tiny room in the attic. His relationships (and eventual job) are the meat of the story. I mean, really, how could someone live in the attic of a hotel without making friends with everyone?

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

A different Earth, a supercontinent ravaged by earthquakes and volcanoes. A girl with a potential power, a seasoned Orogene trying to cull the quakes, and a woman desperate to find her daughter bring us into The Stillness. Magic, fear, and a volatile land make for a scary place to live. Damaya, Syenite, and Essun walk us through the events leading up to the most recent Season. A Season is a period of cold, darkness, and/or anything else that can happen after a giant earthquake sets off a giant volcano, as the Stillness rests on many. 

This is the first book in the Broken Earthtrilogy by N.K. Jemisin. Jemisin creates a vivid world, something we can see without having ever been there. She also puts us in one of the characters' bodies, using “you” instead of another pronoun. It made me feel like I was part of the story more than other books. She creates tension, she relieves part of it, and then she throws something else at you. This is an amazing book and I'm excited to read the magic of the next book, The Obelisk Gate.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Set in a faraway land, in another time, Caraval is a story of magic and deception. After all, it's just a game. But don't get carried away or you may die. Scarlett Dragna has been waiting her entire life to visit Caraval, partly because her grandmother talked about her visit as a young woman and partly because her father turned violent after her mother left. Any time Scarlett disobeys her father, he beats her younger sister Tella, and vice versa. When their long-awaited invitations to Caraval arrive the sisters escape their father with the help of a young sailor. Once they arrive at Caraval they realize he isn't who he seems, but nothing is as it seems. The sisters are separated and Scarlett must race against the clock to save Tella without letting the game drive her insane. 

This is a great story with lots of fun twists and turns. The characters are great, the pliable storyline even better! The only problem I have is Scarlett and Tella's violent father. At first there's no reason for his violence but as the story progresses we see what set him off. However, it seems to be a simplified explanation. 'Because X happened, man suddenly became violent.' Sounds extreme, even in today's environment. The ending was great and I'm looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out this summer. 

From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

Eva and Angelo are best friends, they grew up together and know everything about each other. But in Italy during World War II life becomes dangerous for them both. Eva Rosselli is Jewish and Angelo Bianco is a Catholic priest who is working with the local resistance (some inside the Vatican) to rescue and hide Jewish people being hunted for by the Fascist Italians and then by the German army in Rome. Eva refuses to hide and poses as Angelo's sister so she can work with the resistance to help her people. Will they get away with it?

From Sand and Ash is a moving historical novel focusing on Italy during World War II. The best part of the story is the relationship between the Catholic Church, specifically the Vatican, and the Roman Jewish population. The priests go above and beyond to help the most marginalized citizens without caring about religion. Too bad that would never happen in America today, instead we have Christians attacking anyone and everyone who doesn't believe their narrow-minded view of Christianity, people who wouldn't help their fellow neighbor for fear of being “tainted” by outside beliefs. (Such is life in the Bible Belt, at least.)

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

On a hot summer day in 1969, the four Gold children, Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon, sneak out of their NYC apartment to have their fortunes told. But this isn't just any fortune teller, this woman claims she knows the day they will each die. The story follows each of the children through specific moments in their lives, their search to hide from their dates, to prove they matter in the world. If you knew when you were going to die, would you live your life differently?

The Immortalists is a beautiful and moving magical realism tale that shows how familial bonds can never really be broken. The story is elegantly written and so true to each character that I could feel them in their joys and pains.