According to the calendar, fall has arrived. Neither Ruby nor I am too sure it has actually made it or not. Temps are still not fall like here. No matter though, reading is an all-weather activity, right?

This month’s books share a particular trait. Voice. There are some books, some authors who have a particular voice, which is very distinct and recognizable. Terry Prachett is the one who comes to mind first. Anything he wrote is instantly identifiable as his. There’s just no question. Douglas Adams is similar, very easy to identify—his sense of humor is a dead giveaway.

It is a trait I aspire to as a writer, to have a unique voice that readers both recognize and welcome, like the voice of a friend to settle down with. The books this month both have very distinct voices.

Just so you know, links below are Amazon associate links, so if you buy anything through them, I will get a couple of pennies from that.

Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the care and feedings of British Dragons

Miss Mildred Percy inherits a dragon. Ah, but we’ve already got ahead of ourselves…

Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg.

Miss Percy is one of those characters who immediately grabbed me as being sympathetic, if jut a little frustrating at times. I got offended on her behalf and wanted to shake some of her family members for being awful.

All that to say, I got caught up in the story and that’s a very good thing indeed. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Country Gardening

Dante has come to the small coastal town of Te Kohe, New Zealand, for a fresh start in life. But he doesn’t want to open a BnB, or save a charming bookshop, or start a romance with a single mother in need of rescuing.

He just wants to forget about his past career (which involved a lot of dead bodies) and have everyone leave him the heck alone. Unfortunately for Dante, life has other plans…

I’m a little embarrassed to say it was the cover that drew me to the book, or that the utter contrast between the cover and the title–which was in itself a but absurd. It was so outlandish, all of it, I couldn’t resist checking it out.

And I’m glad I did. The entire cast of characters were quirky and unexpected, the setting was unusual and wonderful. When the point of view shifted between main characters, they all had unique voices and perspectives to share.

Definitely different than my normal fair, but different in a good way. I’m waiting for the next one.

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What are you reading now? Have you ready any books with great voice? Tell me in the comments.