Strong Passions is an unusual story, both in fact and in the telling. Divorce in mid-to-late nineteenth century was a rare thing, indeed, and Weisberg tells the story in a lively way that allows the reader into the courtroom. Along with fascinating insights into the arcane and biased divorce and child custody laws of the era, Weisberg has a probing nose for the salacious in this extremely juicy family story of love, adultery, paternity, and the helplessness of children when spouses go to war. A fun read that I highly recommend!

Ben Fountain's terrific new novel, Devil Makes Three, takes the reader on an unforgettable journey into modern Haiti (with side excursions down the dark alleys of its politically corrupt history. Matt Amaker is copartner of a scuba diving business with his Haitian friend, Alix Variel, when the coup against democratically elected Aristide ends his dreams of a thriving future. Across town, Audrey O'Donnell is a rookie CIA officer intent on a clandestine mission. Paths cross and missions collide as a delightful cast of characters--American and Haitian--all seek to make it rich, find love, and even make a positive difference in the lives of Haiti's long-suffering people.

Fountain stirs up a flavorful étouffée of Haitian politics, history, geography, and language in this substantial novel (544 pages) that both enlightens and entertains. As Matt and Alix shift their focus to diving legendary shipwrecks to find treasure, Alix's sister Misha, finds herself moving away from her PhD plans in America to help at a local Haitian clinic. Fountain weaves in a solid love story, as well, that keeps the novel from being purely a political thriller.

It is also a very chatty novel, but at times the dialogue and descriptions tap the brakes on a complex story that needs movement to survive, much like a shark that needs to keep swimming. Despite moments of flowery exposition and nonessential chit-chat, Fountain puts flesh on the bones of his characters, all of whom have a deep regard for a country in upheaval. Full of underwater adventure and above-water drama, Fountain puts Haiti—in all its multicolored grandeur and pathos—center stage in this fascinating and rewarding long novel.

Having read another very good novel about Clytemnestra recently, I thought: how can this be any better? I was rightfully put in my place by Constanza Casati in her simply titled "Clytemnestra." Casati provides a much different picture than other recent novels have painted of this formidable Greek figure, a more expansive one that follows existing and alternate tellings of Clytemnestra's life. For one, Casati follows the path of Clytemnestra's first marriage to the mythical Tantalus and their doomed happiness at the hands of the cunning, cruel Agamemnon. Casati's prose is riveting and her characters leap and lunge off the page, much like the young female Spartiates who train daily to be warrior mothers. And that is all in the first two acts alone. This is a rich, indulgent, and shattering novel that is uniquely its own; indeed, Clytemnestra has never been more fierce or her vengeance more patient than in Casati's able hands.

Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden is a moving tale of sisters torn apart by the forces of history and an engaging exploration of mainland China and Taiwan during a time of upheaval. Zhuqing Li ties in the history of her family's home in the exotic Flower Fragrant Garden with the ending of WWII and the rise of the Communist Party under Mao Zedong. The tragedy begins when the author's aunt Jun is stranded on the island of Jinmen while visiting a friend and Communist forces seize her hometown…where her beloved sister, Hong, resides. Thus begins a 33-year parallel history of sisters separated by historical forces beyond their control. Blending the personal with the political, Li is a sensitive chronicler as she invites the reader into the pathos of her family's intriguing story. It is ultimately a story of two ambitious, intelligent, and talented women who make the best of their lives. Highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of Lea Ypi's life under socialism and communism in Albania. Her story is unusual in that, as a child, she was very much a believer in "the Party," and found her parents and extended relatives rather lukewarm about it. Halfway through, when the Party falls under protests and the push for a democratic government, Lea learns some shocking things (to her) about her family. This book is perfect for Cold War history buffs or those who are intrigued by all forms of socialism. It's a well-ordered and personal study into the mysteries families hold and how freedom can be as disorienting as it is liberating.

Jennifer Saint reimagines the myth of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos of Crete and half-sisters to the dreaded Minotaur. It is a thrilling and yet tender tale of two sisters longing for the same thing: a life free of their tyrannical father and the ominous presence of the Minotaur, imprisoned in the stone labyrinth beneath the mosaic tiles of the palace. It is a story of love lost, won, and lost again—told by the sisters themselves. In this way, Saint gives readers a wonderfully feminist retelling of the ancient Greek myths. Highly recommend.

For lovers of deep historical fiction with sweeping scope—and a healthy dose of strong, savvy women characters—Elzbieta Cherezinska's The Widow Queen delivers richly. While there are many names and places to keep track of in the book, the story of Swietoslawa is a wryly told saga that only promises more. This is the first book in the trilogy, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. Be prepared to be swept off your feet, sometimes forcefully (we are talking about Vikings after all), and absorb the rich history of Poland during the late 10th century. Love, betrayal, war, exile...this story will stay with you. I'm looking to read more about Poland's past as a result of this book. Do not let this one pass you by.

Contemporary memoirs are usually not my stock in trade, but I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to read it. "The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir" by Sara Seager is a moving story of one very accomplished woman's journey through a devastating loss and how she picked up the myriad pieces of herself to continue the roller coaster ride of life. Seager, an accomplished planetary scientist, is also a very skilled storyteller who deftly moves from the personal story of her love and loss, and then back again to her increasingly successful career searching the heavens for other life and other planets. A deeply inspiring story, it is one that should appeal to many women juggling careers and families. It is also incredibly moving; I found myself wiping away tears at many points in her memoir. The book ultimately serves to remind us of the centrality of hope: the hope to recover from painful loss, to find new beginnings, and, for Seager, to find those smallest lights in the universe.