Empire of Ivory, by Naomi Novik

Finally arriving back in Britain, Laurence and Temeraire discover why they received no help getting there. The dragons have been laid waste by a viral disease; many have died and there is little hope. The news has been kept secret – if Napoleon finds out he will invade with little resistance. This puts on hold their plans for political change to improve the rights of dragons; even with the dragons ravaged by illness there is little consideration for their care or comfort. Temeraire seems to be immune to the disease. He had a cold on their journey to China and there is a theory that he actually had the deadly virus but ate something that cured him on one of their stops. So the aviators are off to southern Africa to search for a cure. Novik explores rich territory, geographically, politically and philosophically in this fourth Temeraire novel. Slavery, colonialism and conflicting loyalties inform the personal and professional conflicts central to the plot. Impossibly honourable Laurence remains just too good to be true - taking the fall for everyone else, including his dragon companion. With several more books in the series he will clearly be extracted from the dire situation he faces at the end of this story. An epilogue gives a glimpse of an interesting alt history for southern Africa and a hopeful note for a refugee sponsored by Laurence.

Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019), directed by Simon Bird

Daniel is 15, a metalhead and off to Florida for the summer to stay with his dad and stepmother. When the trip is called off at the last minute Daniel sinks further into teenage angst at the prospect of six weeks at home with his mum. She is Sue, a self-deprecating librarian who was quite looking forward to the break herself. This small British film is warm and funny, with Monica Dolan and Earl Cave making a great mother-son duo. It cleverly sets up stereotypes and then undoes them by showing fully rounded characters with nuanced relationships. Rob Brydon and Tamsin Greig are notably amusing in supporting roles.

Sunburnt Veils, by Sara Haghdoosti

Tara’s first day at Uni plunges her into the middle of a campus bomb scare. It’s all a misunderstanding of course; this is what happens when you wear a hijab. A total nerd, Tara plans to focus exclusively on study so she can transfer into Medicine. But Uni is full of distractions and she finds herself an accidental activist, in league with a crew of supportive misfits. Oh and one very hot, privileged white male, helping to battle the forces of intolerance. Haghdoosti paints a clear picture of the day-to-day grind of being marginalised and suspected because of what you wear and the colour of your skin. Her heroine is a little too good to be true, but Tara’s relationships with her mother and her best friend are nicely depicted, showing how difference doesn’t have to mean dispute. The relationship with the hot boy doesn’t work quite as well, its abrupt twists and turns not really making sense, but maybe that’s what it’s like being 18 these days. Despite its serious subject matter the novel’s tone remains light, with plenty of humorous touches.

A Comedy of Terrors, by Lindsey Davis

Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius have taken his young nephews into their growing household after the death of their mother. This makes the imminent Saturnalia celebration of the winter solstice a little different from usual, although the lame practical jokes and drunken debauchery remain the same. Tiberius is approaching the end of his magistracy and wants to make his mark before he finishes, while Albia is facing a seasonal drought in her informer work. Meanwhile, someone is supplying Rome with poisonous nuts and there is a power play taking place amongst the city’s organised crime figures. Can the dream team sort it all out? Of course it can. Albia’s family makes a welcome appearance, especially Falco and Helena Justina providing timely professional and personal advice.

Shiva Baby (2020), directed by Emma Seligman

Shortly to graduate from college without a major because she has changed it so frequently, Danielle has few job prospects. Her parents pay her rent and bills and think she earns her pocket money from babysitting. After a problematic sexual encounter she attends a shiva, the wake following a funeral, at the behest of her parents. There she is shocked to find both her ex-girlfriend and her current sugar daddy, with his wife and baby. Negotiating the round of family, lovers and family friends becomes an exercise in claustrophobic panic, which triggers Danielle’s fraught relationship with food. A compact 90 minutes, the film somehow feels longer. It’s slow pace and repetitive action indicating the material is stretched to fill time. It has a few wryly funny moments, but not enough of them. Rachel Sennet is very good as Danielle, working hard to attract some sympathy for a character that represents the worst aspects of the millennial stereotype. The expectations of her and pressure on her are immense, but so is the financial and emotional support provided to her. This makes her actions and decisions beyond questionable, especially in contrast to her delightfully together ex.

An Offer from a Gentleman, by Julia Quinn

Cinderella is the clear inspiration for this third Bridgerton novel, focusing on second son Benedict Bridgerton as Prince Charming. Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of the late Earl of Penwood, relegated to servant status by her wicked stepmother and two ugly-hearted stepsisters. Infiltrating a masked ball as the silver lady, she enchants Benedict then disappears. Will the magic remain when they finally meet again two years later and how will they deal with their social disparity? The story touches on some interesting themes – the downside of being a second son; class mobility; and the economic vulnerability of women. But the romance is the dominating force, regardless of plot holes, dodgy timelines, behavioural inconsistency and jarring anachronisms. More Bridgerton siblings feature in this story - to its benefit, as the heart of the novels is the strong and loving bond of the central family.

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions, by Kerry Greenwood

This is not a new Phryne Fisher novel but a collection of short stories, some of which have been recycled. They are set across all incarnations of Miss Fisher but all somehow take place in 1928, which makes it a very long drawn out and busy year for the intrepid sleuth. Of varying lengths and quality, the stories provide an agreeable dip into 1920s Melbourne. They ignore the world of the television series, which is a good thing as it is a very different place. An entertaining place, but not a patch on the world of the books, with its rich and varied cast of characters.