Kansas Talking Books staff shares their picks from amongst what they've been reading lately. Each person reads something different. Give one our staff picks a try today. If you like the book you read, try checking in with that staff member for future reading recommendations.
Michael Lang, Director
DB 123471 The book of elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville
"A warrior who cannot be killed, known simply as "B", wants to die and a U.S. black-ops group has promised they can help with that if he helps them in return, but when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event points to a force even more mysterious than B himself."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.
Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services Manager
DB 102964 Deep silence: Joe Ledger, book 10 by Jonathan Maberry
A weapon that can induce earthquakes and cause dormant volcanoes to erupt can also drive healthy people to commit suicide and acts of violence. When the madness infiltrates Congress, Joe Ledger and his team hunt the terrorists and the global power financing them. Sequel to Dogs of War (DB 87731). Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.
Rei Cook, Library Assistant
DB 74857 The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Iliad (DB 66356) told from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles's companion and lover. Meeting first as foster brothers, they are schooled by Chiron, and then join the Greek army against Troy. Violence and explicit descriptions of sex. Orange Prize. 2012.
DB 66356 The Iliad by Homer
Robert Fagles's 1990 translation of the Greek epic poem written during the eighth century B.C.E. and attributed to Homer. Relates the events of a few days of battle near the end of the Trojan War. Focuses on Achilles's withdrawal from the fight and its disastrous effects on the Greek campaign. 1990.
Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian
DB 70553 Wages of sin: Cin Craven, book 1 by Jenna Maclaine
England, 1815. Witch Dulcinea "Cin" Craven struggles to control her powerful sorcery skills as an ancient, evil demon takes notice of her newfound abilities. Her only chance for survival is to enlist the help of the Righteous--three vampire warriors. Violence, some strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
DB 70777 Grave sins: Cin Craven, book 2 by Jenna Maclaine
England, 1828. Dulcinea "Cin" Craven, the newly undead Red Witch of the Righteous from Wages of Sin (DB 70553), seeks out alleged mass-murdering vampire queen Marrakesh. But Cin questions Marrakesh's guilt and searches for the real culprit. Explicit descriptions of sex, some strong language, and some violence. 2009.
DB 71291 Bound by sin: Cin Craven, book 3 by Jenna Maclaine
1862. Vampire warriors Cin Craven and her husband Michael, from Grave Sins (DB 70777), hunt renegade vampires with members of the Righteous. But when Cin's cousin Claire is kidnapped, the Righteous change plans to rescue her. Explicit descriptions of sex, some strong language, and some violence. 2010.
DB 103633 Don't hex and drive: Stay a spell, book 2 by Juliette Cross
Witch Isadora Savoie spends her time in the greenhouse or at the animal shelter, using her Conduit powers of growth and healing. She's reluctantly roped into the mystery of missing neighborhood girls, partnering with flirty vampire Devraj Kumar to find them before it's too late. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2020.
DB 122972 Heaven and hell by Kristen Ashley
"After making a bad decision when she was very young, Kia Clementine finds herself in hell. Then, suddenly, within the time it takes for a shotgun to blast, her hell changes. Completely. Then out-of-the-blue she sees Sampson Cooper, her celebrity crush. A man the whole world knows is decent. A man the world knows is loyal. A man the world knows is good. All of these very unlike her now dead husband. He's sitting at a table right next to hers. And she catches his eye. Terrified of the interest Sam shows in her, Kia finds the courage to go out with him. Not long after, she shares her dark secrets and Sam shares that he'll stop at nothing to gain her trust. As Sam leads Kia to heaven, Kia realizes that Sam is living his own hell. But although he gives her beauty and she gives him everything, he withholds his trust. Even with all the beauty Sam shows her, Kia wants it all. But Sam forces Kia to make a heartbreaking decision and only she can decide. It's all or nothing."-- Provided by publisher -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
DBC27444 Stringing rosaries: the history, the unforgivable, and the healing of Northern Plains American Indian boarding school survivors by Denise K. Lajimodiere
Denise Lajimodiere's interest in American Indian boarding school survivors stories evolved from recording her father and other family members speaking of their experiences. Her research helped her to gain insight, a deeper understanding of her parents, and how and why she and her siblings were parented in the way they were. That insight led her to an emotional ceremony of forgiveness, described in the last chapter of Stringing Rosaries. The journey to record survivors stories led her through the Dakotas and Minnesota and into the personal and private space of boarding school survivors. While there, she heard stories that they had never shared before. She came to an understanding of new terms: historical and intergenerational trauma, soul wound. Stringing Rosaries presents a brief history of the boarding school programs for Indigenous Americans, followed by sixteen interviews with boarding school survivors, and ending with the author's own healing journey with her father. Adult. Unrated.