Blaise Rhein Rhein من عند Putki, Sialgudri, Jharkhand, الهند من عند Putki, Sialgudri, Jharkhand, الهند

Outstanding addition to the urban fantasy genre and the quality of the writing is exceptional. I'd rank it up there with Jim Butcher and Laurell Hamilton. I didnt' realize it when I picked this up, but it's the second book in the series. the first is Hellforged.

Mira's is a story of finding (a semblance of) peace of mind by reconciling what she can about her estranged Panamanian father while nursing her young mother through early onset Alzheimer’s. Mira lies to her mother and takes a secret trip to Panama, says she's studying volcanoes in Vancouver, Washington. Mother doesn't know Mira's found the love letters that answer her daughter's aching heart: he always did want his baby; He's not a monster. Her search for identity unfolds while searching for her father in a land that isn't-but-is part of her. Mira's a U of C scholarship student studying geology and her obsession and intrigue about how the world was formed and how it matures and changes color the meaning of life, or, at least, the "logic" of why things happen the way they do. Henríquez does not lay it on thick. It's just enough to let the reader fill in the blanks or walk away knowing some amazing trivia while never losing the heart of the story. I like these short scientific mediations very much. This isn't a "chick book," though it deals with what--at least in movies--would be considered such: nursing a loved one through a slow death while trying to peace together the puzzle that is her mother's past, Mira's own collision with love, the secrets and lies of family matters....all told in sharp, intelligent detail and humor. I recommend this story to everyone. (p.s. for my fellow-fellows out there--this books is the long lost sister of you know what---Mira! Volcanoes!...trippy.)

This 3rd part in the series had moments where things were dark & desperate but I like how they neatly wrapped up the story in the end. Wish we would have seen more than just a glimpse of the main character's future. It was enough to imply the story was over but not enough to know all that happened.

I loved this book of poems as a child and I still love it. Shel Silverstein's poems will make you laugh out loud.