I have raved about Kate Milford from the very beginning. I've mentioned that she wrote my very favorite book of all time (which is, by the way, a very difficult choice). This month is to be completely focused on her and her wonderful books. I am going to talk about three of my favorite books of hers; unfortunately, I can't review them all this month, but I promise every single one is worth the read.
3. The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book
It was so hard to pick a #3. Ultimately, I decided on TRCB, because of the multitude of different stories inside. It's a story of a group of guests at an inn, stuck there in the rain. They begin to tell stories, and soon it is revealed that there is more to each guest than meets the eye. I love this book because of the beautiful ribbon it is that weaves the rest of the books together. I've said before, they're all not one series, but they all have similar elements and characters, which I believe is what makes her books so magical--finding the little threads between the stories.
“Love can hurt. Love can be one-sided. And sometimes love requires sacrifices, too. But love is not predatory. Wherever you go from here, please be wary of anyone who demands to be given your heart rather than asking to be invited into it.” -The Raconteur's Commonplace Book
2. The Boneshaker
Probably the most awesome thing about this book is that it is Kate Milford's DEBUT NOVEL!!! As in, the FIRST book she EVER published! And from the first sentence, I was hooked. Strange things can happen at a crossroads. That's the first line. HOW?! I certainly haven't figured out that perfect "hook" formula (no matter how many English teachers try to teach me through research papers and persuasive essays). The setting is Arcane, Missouri, which in itself is unique, because have you ever heard of a book set in Missouri? Kansas, sure. New York City, definitely. But Missouri? A deadbeat town in 1914, in the middle of nowhere, and Kate Milford somehow spins it into the gripping setting of a gothic story about a battle of souls. It's so beautifully creepy.
Natalie Minks, 13 years old-- a daring protagonist who finds herself stumbling into the magical side of mechanics when a medicine show/ carnival/ all-around chilling technological fair rolls into town. They come promising healing, but soon Natalie finds out that her town is in grave danger. And it's up to her to save it.
“It was a very hard thing to do, but not doing it would've been worse.” -The Boneshaker
1. The Broken Lands
No joke: this is my favorite book of all time. This is another one of those books that had me at the first sentence. A crossroads can be a place of great power; this should not come as a surprise. See what I mean that all of Kate's books have a thread weaving them together? I get shivers just thinking about this book-- it's THAT good. It's another very gothic book, which I love. It's set in New York City in 1877, so this takes place years before The Boneshaker, but there are so many similarities that I'll let you find out on your own ;)
Sam is 15, and he hustles cards for a living (I mean, that in itself makes me want to read it). The setting and time period is so important because in 1877, a bridge connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan is being built-- an engineering marvel that just so happens to be a crucial part of the story. Sam meets Jin, who is a fireworks expert (can the characters get any better?) and together they are thrust into a battle between otherworldly creatures far older than the city itself, bent on destroying the very city they love. I fell in love with this book from the very beginning, but each chapter, each sentence, each word, had me falling even harder. Kate's writing made me feel like I was right there, and more than once my breath caught in my throat as I watched the story's events unfold. I can't even begin to tell you how well this is written and how much I wish I could read it again for the first time. This book is for you if you love dark, mysterious books involving gambling, fireworks, and a race against dark forces that will haunt you (in the best way possible) until you hit the end pages, and beyond.
"'You know that isn't the world we live in, darlin',' he said softly. 'Would make life all sorts of easier, but things aren't that way.'" -The Broken Lands
I was only able to tell you about three of Kate Milford's books this month, but every single one of them is a beautiful story of its own that I highly encourage you to give a try. I adore the way she writes and the way her words makes me feel. Thank y'all for joining me on my spiel on my favorite author ever. Happy November!
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