Book Review
Oct. 26th, 2025 06:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariAs the Crow Flies
by Karen F. Williams
This sapphic romance with gothic and paranormal elements was mostly enjoyable. Samantha is a 40-something successful mystery author who has a pet crow and a terrific friend in her new extended family member, Liz (sister of Sam's new sister-in-law). When Liz helps Sam find a match for an antique bookend, they end up meeting the Laraways, Gwen and her niece Isabel. Sam and Gwen quickly hit it off and soon develop a relationship. Liz is instantly smitten with Isabel, but Isabel is slow to recognize her own attraction to Liz. Gwen's property is haunted by a restless spirit with mysterious intentions, adding a spooky sub-plot.
I liked a lot about this book. Despite the present-day setting, the dialog and plot often felt like a witty and snappy 1930s film. I enjoyed that old-fashioned element, and the characters were all interesting and fun. I also liked the several scenes in which the characters, particularly Sam anad Gwen, had fairly abstract, intellectual conversations. A romance with older characters is something I always enjoy, since it is not terribly common in the genre. Sam and Gwen are both women who have accomplished a lot professionally and are fairly assured in their lives and senses of self. It's nice to have characters who know what they are doing and have the kind of self-confidence that comes from being older.
Some aspects were less enjoyable. Sam and Liz were at times fairly crass and catty in their conversations with each other, in a way that wasn't entirely fun. I also found Liz a bit too pushy and impatient in her pursuit of Isabel. Their romance could have been a really great slow burn to contrast with Sam and Gwen's more instant connection. I didn't love the way the ghost sub-plot played out for reasons that would be spoilers.
by Karen F. Williams
This sapphic romance with gothic and paranormal elements was mostly enjoyable. Samantha is a 40-something successful mystery author who has a pet crow and a terrific friend in her new extended family member, Liz (sister of Sam's new sister-in-law). When Liz helps Sam find a match for an antique bookend, they end up meeting the Laraways, Gwen and her niece Isabel. Sam and Gwen quickly hit it off and soon develop a relationship. Liz is instantly smitten with Isabel, but Isabel is slow to recognize her own attraction to Liz. Gwen's property is haunted by a restless spirit with mysterious intentions, adding a spooky sub-plot.
I liked a lot about this book. Despite the present-day setting, the dialog and plot often felt like a witty and snappy 1930s film. I enjoyed that old-fashioned element, and the characters were all interesting and fun. I also liked the several scenes in which the characters, particularly Sam anad Gwen, had fairly abstract, intellectual conversations. A romance with older characters is something I always enjoy, since it is not terribly common in the genre. Sam and Gwen are both women who have accomplished a lot professionally and are fairly assured in their lives and senses of self. It's nice to have characters who know what they are doing and have the kind of self-confidence that comes from being older.
Some aspects were less enjoyable. Sam and Liz were at times fairly crass and catty in their conversations with each other, in a way that wasn't entirely fun. I also found Liz a bit too pushy and impatient in her pursuit of Isabel. Their romance could have been a really great slow burn to contrast with Sam and Gwen's more instant connection. I didn't love the way the ghost sub-plot played out for reasons that would be spoilers.
