<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story places Eugenides in the uncomfortable position of rediscovering his place in a world of warring kingdoms, political power-plays, and within the plans and boundaries of his gods. Unlike the first book, the gods do not fully comply with Eugenides, resulting in a heart-breaking moment (for me<\/em>) near the end of the book. Gen becomes a kind of stereotypical vision of a man shaking his fists at the heavens and asking his gods, \u201cWhy?\u201d On the heels of the first book, the contrast of Eugenides\u2019 encounter with the gods while stealing Hamiathes’s Gift, and his encounter at the end of The Queen of Attolia<\/em>, reveals a clear shift in path for the Thief. Perhaps a shift that he isn\u2019t fully ready for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t not talk about the insane romance this book presents. Both Eugenides and Attolia are tortured emotionally and physically by their love for one another on a scale I have never seen, and I was Eating. It. Up. I enjoyed seeing how much they are changed by one another, especially Attolia. Throughout the book she presents as a stoic and hardened leader, but privately she\u2019s plagued by the things she\u2019s done to Eugenides. By the end we see her mask soften because of Gen\u2019s devotion to her, despite and because of what it cost him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Elise<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowboy Gangster Politician (EP)<\/em> by Goldie Boutilier<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a defender of country music, and I believe country is at its best when it\u2019s simple: a guitar, a story, and a strong voice. That\u2019s all that\u2019s needed on the new EP by Goldie Boutilier, Cowboy Gangster Politician<\/em>. With the power of her husky voice, Boutilier\u2019s straightforward storytelling becomes all the more impactful. It\u2019s her first release under the name Goldie Boutilier, the first, in her words<\/a>, working \u201cwith a producer that plays real instruments,\u201d and like her name, she\u2019s struck gold.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cHe Thinks That I\u2019m an Angel\u201d starts off soft and slow, letting the lyrics and instruments build gradually until the switch in the chorus: \u201cHe thinks that I\u2019m an angel \/ But I\u2019m in love with you.\u201d The eponymous track, \u201cCowboy Gangster Politician<\/a>,\u201d thrums with a plucky, Fleetwood Mac-inspired bass line. She defends, if not pleads for, a relationship that already ended, sounding so impassioned that the chorus sounds less intimidating than hopeful: \u201cYou can’t separate a fire from a flame that already burns \/ You can’t get away from a woman who loves you.\u201d The last song on the EP, \u201cBody Heat,\u201d takes an 80s edge to create a fiery track about desire and love, again from the perspective of a cheater. The electric guitars punch up the raunchiness of the track, especially in the pre-chorus, which builds in desire and frustration lyrically and sonically. The chorus breaks upon a simple phrase, \u201cGotta feel your body heat \/ baby,\u201d but the repetitive breathiness perfectly matches the atmosphere of the song. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining song on the album, \u201cK-Town,\u201d is Boutilier at her most personal. It\u2019s a classic country fable, following her trajectory from small-town to stardom, with a reference to country classics, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. \u201cCause I\u2019ve been through a ring of fire \/ Been so lonesome I could die,\u201d Boutilier laments in the chorus. Then she finishes off with her own words, adding the self-assurance and determination with which she\u2019s infused the whole album: \u201cI’m the daughter of a coal miner’s daughter \/ And if I had the chance, I know I’d do it twice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

End Notes: Credit for The Queen of Attolia<\/em> book covers<\/a>, Credit for Cowboy Gangster Politician<\/em> album cover<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner My April recommendation is the continuation of last month\u2019s. I read the second book in the Queen\u2019s Thief series, The Queen of Attolia. This book, just like the first, had me enthralled by storytelling, specifically the way that the author masterfully conceals information from the reader. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","WB4WB4WP_MODE":"","WB4WP_PAGE_SCRIPTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_STYLES":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FONTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_HEADER":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FOOTER":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[19,13],"class_list":["post-826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-monthly-recs","tag-music","tag-novel"],"yoast_head":"\n