From now until I decide I want to stop doing this, I will be giving out a monthly “Jennifer Award” for the best new-to-me thing I read that month. This can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be an essay/article, a short story, a novelette, a novella, or a novel. It doesn’t matter when it came out. It only matters that this is the first time I read it and I thought it was the best thing I read all month. Yes, it is completely subjective and biased towards what I like to read.

The winner will receive a shiny digital badge and a $5 gift card.

The August winner of the Jennifer Award is Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire. It is no secret I adore the October Daye series. But, like book six, Ashes of Honor, Night and Silence is one of those books in the series that brings many plot threads to a close with an emotional satisfaction you can feel. There was a turn in the series at book six. There is a definite turn in book twelve. So many mistakes, bad assumptions, and hidden truths came to light. At the same time, so many more questions and so much potential revealed themselves. It’s divine.

Yes, Night and Silence can be read out of order. Seanan does a good job catching everyone up on the series. You will enjoy this book on its own. However, if you have a chance, read the series. The emotional impact will be so much more. And may I just say, it’s nice to see the male lead vulnerable. He’s still a killing machine, but he’s got PTSD in the worst way. He knows it and he’s finally open to help. I’m happy to see that.

2018
Jan: Godfall and Other Stories by Sandra M. Odell
Feb: “When We Fall” by Kameron Hurley
Mar: The Alastair Stone Chronicles by R.L. King
Apr: Deep Roots by Ruthanna Emrys
May: “The Soul of Horses” by Beth Cato
Jun: “Daddy’s Girl” by Jennifer R. Donohue
Jul: “By Claw, By Hand, By Silent Speech” by Elsa Sjunneson-Henry & A. Merc Rustad
Aug: Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire