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Tess of the Road
by Rachel Hartman

This character-driven fantasy novel is set in the same world as Hartman's earlier Seraphina series, and takes place a few years after the events in those two books. Tess is Seraphina's half-sister. Tess has always been a bit of a wild child, prone to mischief and of a temperament at odds with becoming the proper, modest, demure young woman her puritanically pious mother wants her to be. Having endured some traumatic experiences at a young age, Tess grows into a troubled young woman. After she makes a scene at her twin sister's wedding, her disapproving family gives her a terrible choice between entering a convent or serving her sister as a lady in waiting and eventual governess. Tess rebels against both options and runs away, disguised as a boy. When she runs into Pathka, an old friend, she joins him on his quest to find the mythical World Serpent. On the road, Tess finds she must face her traumas and troubles and come to terms with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Hartman's writing and setting are very rich and compelling - I was always completely drawn into the story and the characters. Tess' adventures are varied and often exciting. She makes friends and has encounters that help her to see a wider world and to gain new understanding of her past. She finally begins to heal from it and to move forward. Tess could be a very frustrating character as she made plenty of bad decisions and lashed out at people. But she was also someone I could always root for and empathize with, especially her process of growing, healing, and finally figuring out her own path.

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke
by Megan Frampton

In this historical romance, Thaddeus, the new Duke of Hasford, sets out to find himself a demure and refined lady for a bride. However, when he and the vivacious and slightly unconventional Lavinia Capel accidentally end up in a very compromising position, they a must marry to prevent a ruinous scandal. Thaddeus and Lavinia initially enter into a business-like bargain to produce an heir and then live separate lives. But when they find a passionate connection both in and out of bed, Thaddeus and Lavinia must alter their bargain entirely.
Although the start was slow, I ended up really liking this one. Lavinia and Thaddeus initially think that they do not like each other, but it proves to be only friction due to their differing personalities. Thaddeus is fairly buttoned-up and and stoic, while Lavinia is more forthright and fun-loving. As they get to know each other, they quickly develop an appreciation for each other's traits. I also loved how important communication is in this story - it's pretty much the answer to all the hurdles in their relationship. Luckily, while Frampton does give them some hurdles to overcome, none of them are ridiculous.

The Cambridge Companion to Grand Opera
Edited by David Charlton

This set of essays defines grand opera as a sub-genre that flourished in France in the middle of the 19th century. These works usually had five acts, included dance, and featured a plot that involved the characters' personal lives getting swept up in big historical events. Typical grand operas include most of Meyerbeer and Auber's works, plus Rossini's William Tell. Each chapter takes on an aspect of grand opera, a specific slice of the repertoire, or grand opera's influence and legacy outside of France and on later composers.
One of the things I liked best about this book is the way the specificity of its definition of grand opera allowed it to cover a wide range of topics. I especially enjoyed the first section, which delved into how grand opera was put together and produced and the ways it interacted with the state and literature. I also enjoyed the exploration of grand opera outside of France. I would have liked a chapter or two that examined the state of grand opera in the late 20th century and how more recent operas have interacted with its legacy.