Month: December 2015

Fire Catcher (The Thief Taker Series, Book 2), by C. S. Quinn, (Thomas & Mercer), 542 pages, release date 10 November, 2015

A little over a year ago, I reviewed the first book in C. S. Quinn’s Thief Taker series (titled, not surprisingly, The Thief Taker). My response to the title was mixed. It offered an interesting protagonist and was set in a fascinating historical period. On the other hand, it read as a romance more than anything else and—despite an interesting premise—didn’t do as much with the time period as it might have.

Fire Catcher picks up not long after The Thief Taker ended and marks a real improvement in the series. This time the book is set during London’s Great Fire of 1666. As the details of his background slowly emerge, the protagonist, Charlie Tuesday, is becoming a richer presence. The tensions between Protestants and Catholics at the time receive greater emphasis. Quinn also involves more historical figures, including many members of the court. In other words, Quinn is now making use of the potential of this historical period, rather than using it as a faintly painted backdrop.

Fire Catcher offers readers a central plot that’s both twisted and compelling. Blackstone, the villain, is a former Catholic radical who was active in the effort to return King Charles to the throne. However, he feels he’s been betrayed by his confederates and is determined to destroy all of London (and to accomplish some rather creepy dark magic at the same time) by fire bombing the city’s many guild halls. This plot plays rather freely with history, but it works—and Quinn’s depictions of the fire’s ravages are striking, even if the fire’s cause is improbable.

When I finished The Thief Taker, I was uncertain about this series. Having read Fire Catcher, I’m now most definitely looking forward to the next opportunity to spend some time with Charlie Tuesday.

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Food52 Vegan: 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen, by Gena Hamshaw, (Ten Speed Press), 160 pages, 100 photos, release date 22 September, 2015

Gena Hamshaw’s Food52 Vegan is a good starting point for anyone interested in an open-ended introduction to vegan cooking. The recipes range from the familiar to the not-too-exotic and cover everything from breakfast to dessert. Go-To Pancakes and Peach Crumble Coffee Cake (both in the breakfast section) fall into the familiar category. Not-too-exotic options include dishes like Cauliflower and Oyster Mushroom Tacos, Zucchini Quinoa Cakes, and Smoky Tempeh and Hummus Sandwiches (all in the main dishes section).

This breadth is both the book’s strength and its weakness. It makes vegan eating possible at any time of the day or on any occasion, but with sixty recipes spanning six categories—including appetizers, soups, and salads in addition to the categories mentioned above—the options in any one category are limited. In other words, this is a book that can get you started with vegan cooking, but it isn’t a book that will enable you to make a commitment to vegan living on a daily basis.

The author, Gena Hamshaw, writes the “New Veganism” column for the web site Food52, and part of her message is that veganism isn’t an all-or-nothing choice. Vegan meals are delicious and healthy, whether you eat them every day or only a few times a week. If this is the approach you’re taking, the high breadth-to-depth ratio of the book will work in your favor.

All sixty recipes are illustrated with photos—yummy, hunger-inducing photos—which also makes the book welcoming to those new to veganism. Can’t imagine what animal-free meals look like? Here you go—and, boy, do they look good.

If you’re already vegan, this book may be of somewhat limited use, but if veganism is a new part-time or full-time adventure you’re about to embark on, Food52 Vegan can get you off to a good start.

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