AND THEN I WOKE UP by Malcolm Devlin

“A virus transforms those it infects into violently unreliable narrators in this dystopian novella.”

and then i woke up

who study the dragon transformations are silenced by the government, no one really understands why “dragooning” happens or how it works. When Alex’s Aunt Marla is among the thousands of women who all turn into dragons together on the same day in 1955, her beloved cousin, Beatrice, becomes her adopted sister. And when Alex is in high school and her own mother dies of cancer, her father sticks her in a cheap apartment and tells her she’s old enough to raise Beatrice on her own. Alex inherited her mother’s talent for math and science, and she struggles between her own rage at how her abilities are constantly diminished by the men around her and her resentment that her Aunt Marla became a dragon and abandoned her and Beatrice. But the older Beatrice gets, the more she longs to become a dragon herself, and Alex lives in terror that Beatrice will leave her behind. In lesser hands the dragon metaphor would feel simplistic and general, but Barnhill uses it to imagine different ways of living, loving, and caring for each other. The result is a complex, heartfelt story about following your heart and opening your mind to new possibilities.

This novel’s magic goes far beyond the dragons.

AND THEN I WOKE UP

Devlin, Malcolm Tordotcom (176 pp.) $13.99 paper | April 12, 2022 978-1-250-79807-7

A virus transforms those it infects into violently unreliable narrators in this dystopian novella. Spence was working as a dishwasher in a pizzeria when most of the staff and patrons suddenly turned into rotting, ravenous monsters, forcing Spence and his friend Macey to kill their attackers and set the place on fire. Over months scavenging for food and supplies while defending himself and other survivors from the ravenous “Others,” Spence gradually awakens to the truth: He and his compatriots are afflicted with an illness that makes them see the uninfected as monsters when in reality they are just innocent people living their lives. Inside the Ironside facility, Spence has almost come to terms with what happened to him and what he did under the virus’s influence. But after he befriends Leila, a new inmate, and learns her story, he must consider if it’s better to confront an ugly and painful truth or to live a dangerous, but in some ways comforting, lie. Elements of this fable will surely resonate with contemporary readers living in a world where “alternative” facts and competing narratives have driven people to violence and death, and a virus is just one of the natural, social, political, and cultural upheavals that have polarized the population and led them to perceive those on the other side of the divide as monsters or idiots. Speculative fiction’s futuristic and fantastic worlds have always served as a mirror for present-day issues, and this is a fine example of the new wave of stories grappling with our current tumult.

Understandably unsettling while offering a glimmer of redemptive hope.

romance

NEVER A DUKE

Burrowes, Grace Forever (400 pp.) $8.99 paper | April 26, 2022 978-1-5387-0698-5

A lady and a banker, neither of whom quite fits into society, develop feelings for each other while working together to solve a mystery. When Rosalind Kinwood’s lady’s maid goes missing she seeks help from Ned Wentworth because of his association with others from low origins. Ned may have ducal connections and wealth now, but his grim past included poverty and time in prison, which have led to scandalous rumors. Rosalind understands how it feels to be judged and criticized; she gets ridiculed for her outspokenness and the way she used to stutter. Rosalind and Ned get along well from the get-go. The romantic arc is primarily about how they each become more confident in themselves through being loved by the other. It’s a soft, sweet love between kind, thoughtful, and intelligent characters. While the story mostly focuses on the two leads, the narrative occasionally shifts to various side characters in a way that adds further excitement to the plot and more depth to the characters. Drama comes from the mystery, although that’s given a leisurely pace until the climactic end. Rich with historical detail, the novel weaves in other plotlines that explore family dynamics and social issues. The large cast of side characters may be overwhelming to newcomers to the Rogues to Riches series, but for those who have read prior installments, it’s a treat to check in with all the other Wentworths and their partners.

Sure to please Burrowes’ many fans.

BUSINESS NOT AS USUAL

Cooper, Sharon C. Berkley (320 pp.) $16.00 paper | April 5, 2022 978-0-593-33525-3

An optimistic secretary takes a gamble on love in Cooper’s debut romantic comedy. Working as a secretary at Mathison Technology is definitely not “badass boss lady” material for 28-year-old Dreamy Daniels, but she’s sure that once she wins the lottery, all her goals will magically fall into place. After taking some time off college to provide for her ailing grandfather, Dreamy is finally one semester away from acquiring her bachelor’s degree in public administration. Her plan is simple: Win the Powerball, support Gramps, and use the rest of the money