The Princess Bride meets Six of Crows in this uproarious fantasy debut set in 18th century Scandinavia full of assassins, magic potions, romance and rivalry.
Valour and Petrichor are esteemed members of the Order of Axsten, an assassin’s guild tasked with keeping order in the rough city of Vinterstock. Plucked from the streets as children and raised to compete for their guild’s approval, Valour uses her brawn to survive, while Petrichor strives to be a gentleman assassin. When they’re given their biggest job yet—to kill Brandquist, the mysterious leader of the city’s illegal magic trade—it’s a recipe for disaster. If they can quell their rivalry long enough, the reward will be enough to settle their debts with the Order and start new lives. If this job wasn’t dangerous enough, Valour is saddled with protecting the aristocrat, Ingrid Rytterdahl. Valour finds her dangerously attractive, but Petrichor can’t wait to be rid of them both. He begrudgingly accepts Ingrid’s knowledge and connections as they navigate the city’s criminal underbelly in pursuit of Brandquist. As secrets bubble to the surface, the duo must outwit the thugs on their tail, keep Ingrid alive, and—hardest of all—work together without murdering each other.
Thank you Solaris Books for my copy
Review
Here is my review of this Scandinavian fantasy- Snowblooded by Emma Strener Radley.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I enjoyed Snowblooded- the Scandinavian setting and the subtle Nordic mythology that is threaded through the story gave this fantasy a fresh twist.
Valour and Petrichor are the two orphans trained to be deadly assassin and who hate being assassins and the story is told from their point of view. Valour is now my favourite female assassin so far- a woman who is honest about the how breasts and periods can get in the way of being an assassin ( an honest take I truly appreciated).
There is plenty of action and intrigue as well as the mystery of who Brandquist is. All this is set against the background of social unrest and a hint of a brewing revolution. There isn’t a lot of magic in the book except for magic potions.
The plot generally moves quickly but there where a few placed where it was slow with a little too much discussion between characters, but this did not stop me from enjoying the book.
There is a lovely romance between the hard as nails Valour and the rich pampered, heiress Ingrid.
I really enjoyed Leftovers by Eleanor Barnett- nonfiction book about food waste and food preservation.
A topical and richly entertaining history of food preservation and food waste in Britain from the sixteenth-century kitchen to the present day.In Leftovers, Eleanor Barnett explores the many ingenious ways in which our ancestors sought to extend the life of food through preservation, the culinary reuse of leftovers and the recycling of food scraps. Embracing a broad historical lens, the book spans Tudor household management; the world-changing inventions in food preservation of the Industrial Revolution from the tin can to artificial refrigeration; the growth of public health initiatives and organised food waste collection in the Victorian era; state promotion of thrifty eating during the two World Wars; and the politics of food and packaging waste in the modern era of sustainability.Opening a window on the everyday experiences of ordinary people in the past, Leftovers reveals how factors such as religious belief, class identities and gender have historically shaped attitudes towards food waste.
Review
I found this non-fiction book about the history of food waste and food preservation just as compelling as my fiction books. Here is my review of Leftovers by Eleanor Barnett.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from the introduction when the author described the Great Nottingham Cheese riots of 1766- a historical event that was not covered in any detail when I was school.
The book traces the history of food waste and food preservation from ancient times when food was preserved in the summer for the bleak winter months to very little waste to the current time where society is more aware of food waste and the environmental concerns of ever increasing amounts of rubbish.
It was reassuring to read that this isn’t a new problem, the descriptions of the Thames being a waste ground for butchers and the resulting stench that led to protests sounds familiar. As is the campaigns on imaginative and creative ways of substituting ingredients during the world wars- just have a look on blogs on thrift and saving money or the craze for banana bread during lockdown.
I found the history of how canned food came to be ( a result of a competition) and how this led to scandal of sailors being poisoned by contaminated cans. A scandal so bad it was discussed in parliament!
But this book did make me think about my own attitudes to food waste. I have always tried not to waste food, but this has somewhat slipped as life gets in the way. Leftovers has made me think about how I can reduce food waste.
Here is my review of The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo- historical fantasy
In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position. What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.
Review
I really enjoyed The Familiar- A standalone historical fantasy by Leigh Bardugo.
Leigh Bardugo has become one of my auto-buy authors and The Familiar is her new standalone book set in Spain with a background of the Inquisition.
The book is told from the point of view of a few people but the mainly from Luzia, the scullion maid with magical talent, Valentina a poor noblewoman unhappy with her life and Santangel, the mysterious friend of nobleman De Paresdes.
The writing in the book is more descriptive than her previous book especially her descriptions of Luzia’s magic, Valentina’s and Santangel’s quiet despair as well as their willingness to do anything to escape their circumstances.
The suffocating presence of the Spanish Inquisition plays an important part in the book- initially in the background and then in the forefront. . The story moves quickly with plenty of action, romance, betrayal and of course magic.
Content warning
Descriptions of torture
Perfect for Fans
There is plenty of historical detail to please all the historical fiction fans with plenty of magic for Bardugo’s fantasy fans.
It’s another Top Ten Tuesday and it’s a fun one this week
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I try not to DNF a book but then again life is too short. Here are my reasons to not finish reading a book.
Random Dead children
Want to make a Detective tragic? Give them a dead child. Need to make your fantasy dark? Kill a few children. Need to make your fantasy even darker? Kill a few babies. Want to make your story pull at the heartstrings? Reference a dead child.
Nothing makes me give up a book then random dead children that make no difference to the story.
Books in the present tense
I have no idea why I struggle with this, but unless the story or characters are amazing, I’m likely to DNF ( unless it is an ARC for review)
Graphic descriptions of violence
I give up on a book when there are pages and pages of graphic and vivid descriptions of violence especially sexual violence.
Insta love in non- romance books
When someone falls in love as soon as they set eyes someone a romance , it is well romantic. In any other genre, it is just unrealistic and sometimes creepy.
Random references to ‘isms’ for no reason
There are books where racism ,sexism, homophobism etc are an important part of the story or the setting but I just want to slam a book shut when a random character decides to use hate filled language as way to show how despicable they are.Or when an author adds a touch of non essential prejudice needs to show how terribly hate filled a place, community or person is.When this has absolutely no bearing to the story, I don’t finish the book.
Very slow middles
I expect the pace of most books to slow in the middle, but I give up when the pace is almost snail-like, and the book is over 400 pages long.
Books that sneak erotica in
An example of this is the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series- for years this was one of my favourite urban fantasy series but then I gave up whensuddenly Anita had just finished fighting a supernatural threat, she ends up in a very descriptive threesome.
Head Hopping
I hardly come across this but its does happen occasionally. Changing POVs with a paragraph is a definitely no for me.
Americanisms
I have DNFd when people who have never left Britain in the book use Americans words like sidewalk or elevator. This is especially worse if the character is older or if the book is a historical novel.
Here is my review of The Silverblood Promise by James Logan- fantasy.
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away. When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death. His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
Review
Here is my review of this fantasy- The Sliverblood Promise by James Logan.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The prose in this book is well written with great descriptions. I enjoyed the interactions between the hero Lukan and Flea, a street orphan, who is trying to help with his quest to find his father’s murder. I liked Ashra who joins halfway through the book.
This is less a heist book and more a murder mystery in a fantasy setting.
I have to confess I did struggle with this one and I’m not sure why. It has everything I like in a fantasy- great world building ,intrigue, interesting characters and strong women. I just couldn’t get into book, and it took me a while to get to the end but I think most people will enjoy the book, especially fantasy fans.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I don’t have many books on my physical shelves ( I’m on declutter mode at the moment) but have plenty on my kindle shelves- so here are my unread books I would like to read soon.
Slow Horses by Mike Herron ( On kindle since 2023)
London, England: Slough House is where the washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what’s left of their failed careers. The “slow horses,” as they’re called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated here. Maybe they messed up an op badly and can’t be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle—not unusual in this line of work. One thing they all have in common, though, is they all want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there─even if it means having to collaborate with one another. River Cartwright, one such “slow horse,” is bitter about his failure and about his tedious assignment transcribing cell phone conversations. When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading live on the Internet, River sees an opportunity to redeem himself. But is the victim who he first appears to be? And what’s the kidnappers’ connection with a disgraced journalist? As the clock ticks on the execution, River finds that everyone has his own agenda.
Stellar Instinct by Jonathan Nevair ( On kindle since 2024)
Strange signals pulse from an icy planet in a remote star system. Enter Lilline Renault, GAM-OPs secret agent extraordinaire. To ordinary citizens she’s Keely Larkin, an adventure company guide with a flair for the daring and a penchant for writing trite poetry. When a terrifying link between high-tech entertainment and ancient cosmic forces rises, Lilline leaps into action. Verses flow as she rockets through space, dons cunning disguises, and infiltrates enemy territory with an arsenal of secret gadgets. To solve the mystery behind a dastardly plan means beating a mastermind at his own game. Lilline will need her best weapon to stand a fighting chance: her instinct.
Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch ( arc on kindle since 2024)
The hilarious first novel in a cosy and inclusive historical romantasy series by the writer of Horrible Histories In an alternative Elizabethan London, Upper London residents Fang and Lazare awake from their deaths to discover they are not quite human anymore. In fact, despite having acquired the power of immortality, they’re also not quite vampire, zombie, werewolf or any of the other supernatural beings that reside in the underground city of Deep London. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two strangers set out to reverse the spell, all the while trying to ignore the intense connection between them. As they are drawn further into the shadowy world of Deep London, they unearth a dangerous plot which they appear to be right in the middle of.
Malice by John Gwynne ( on kindle since 2022)
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage. The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars. High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie ( on kindle since 2021)
The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever. On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal’s son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta – socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union – plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control. The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another…
Jade city by Fonda Lee ( on kindle since 2020)
The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It’s the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities. The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion–but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection. When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.
The Secret Stealers by Jane Healy ( On kindle since – I have no idea!)
Anna Cavanaugh is a restless young widow and brilliant French teacher at a private school in Washington, DC. Everything changes when she’s recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by family friend and legendary WWI hero Major General William Donovan. Donovan has faith in her—and in all his “glorious amateurs” who are becoming Anna’s fast friends: Maggie, Anna’s down-to-earth mentor; Irene, who’s struggling to find support from her husband for her clandestine life; and Julia, a cheerful OSS liaison. But the more Anna learns about the organization’s secret missions, the more she longs to be stationed abroad. Then comes the opportunity: go undercover as a spy in the French Resistance to help steal critical intelligence that could ultimately turn the tide of the war. Dispatched behind enemy lines and in constant danger, Anna is filled with adrenaline, passion, and fear. She’s driven to make a difference—for her country and for herself. Whatever the risk, she’s willing to take it to help liberate France from the shadows of occupation and to free herself from the shadows of her former life.
Here is my review of Bloodshed on the boards by Judy Leigh- cosy mystery.
There is excitement in the air as the travelling theatre arrives in Seal Bay. When The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrives in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur the locals flock to be entertained. But for Morwenna Mutton, sexagenarian librarian, wild swimming enthusiast and amateur sleuth, the theatre brings intrigue too. Actor and director Daniel Kitto is not the most popular member of the cast and unbeknownst to him, his role of Uther Pendragon on the opening night is to be his swansong. In front of a horrified audience, he collapses during the dying moments of the performance in a pool of fake blood, and although the police are content that the causes of his death are natural, Morwenna isn’t so sure. And once it becomes clear that there are a number of people who stand to gain from Daniel’s death, Morwenna’s investigation takes a dangerous turn.
Review
Here is my review of Bloodshed on the boards by Judy Leigh- cosy mystery.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Bloodshed on the boards by Judy Leigh is a lovely cosy mystery set in Cornwall. I loved the fact the lead amateur detective is confident woman in her sixties living a great life. In fact ,Morwenna’s mother is equally fascinating as character.
There are a suitable number of suspicious characters with their own strange motives, and I have to admit I didn’t guess the identity of ‘who did it’.
Seal Bay and the villagers form a lovely backdrop to the mystery and Morwenna’s busy romantic life and there are some lovely descriptions of Cornwall. I liked the peppering of the dialogue with Cornish with a help guide at the start of the book.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Secret Keepers by Tilly Bagshawe- sweeping historical fiction.
Sweeping from the French Riviera to the wind-blown Cornish cliffs, this is a spellbinding novel about the fates and fortunes of the Challant family – and the devastating secrets that echo through the years . . .The beautiful bastide at Beaulieu-sur-Mer has always been an idyllic retreat for the Challant family, a place of glorious memories and sun-drenched summers. But the summer of 1928 changes everything. One humid, stormy night, a young local boy suffers a fatal accident in the bastide’s grounds – and the suspicious circumstances around his death sets off a chain of whispers in the town on the Riviera. For the Challant children, they have no choice but to move on and leave those terrible events in the past. But through the years of loves and losses, marriages and betrayals, the Challants’ lives will always be tainted by that night. And it’s only by unlocking devastating family secrets that they’ll finally be set free…
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the Blog Tour for The Secret Keepers by Tilly Bagshawe- historical fiction spanning decades and countries.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
It has been a while since I read historical fiction centred on a single family and The Secret Keepers reminded me of how much I love these books.
The Secret Keepers follows the fates of the Challant family from the art deco 1920’s right through the swinging sixties and the secret tragedy that taints their lives.
The story mainly focusses on Ines, the youngest daughter who may or may not have witnessed something terrible one awful night in 1928 but it haunted by the hidden secret and Hector Young, an upper-class teenager, who would do anything to restore his family fortune. Their stories intersect and I wasn’t expecting quite how their lives turn out after they meet ( which was I loved).
The story is epic in its scale sweeping across the French Riveria, Paris, the Swiss Alps and Cornwall with each locale beautifully described a little differently in each new time period. The author manages to convey how society from the 20’s to the 60’s particularly the place for women in society.
The underlying secret lurks in the background, haunting the family until Ines decides to find out what happened that fateful night.
I really enjoyed this book and will be adding the authors backlist to my TBR list.
Perfect for Fans of
Historical Fiction, as I said it has been a while but this book gave me vibes of A Woman of Substance.
About The Author
Tilly Bagshawe is the internationally bestselling author of nineteen previous novels and has written for newspapers and magazines including the Sunday Times, Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. She lives in London with her husband and 4 children.
I’m pleased to be part of the bog tour for Red Runs the Witch’s Thread by Victoria Williamson- historical fiction.
Paisley, Scotland, 1697. Thirty-five people accused of witchcraft. Seven condemned to death. Six strangled and burned at the stake. All accused by eleven-year-old Christian Shaw.Bargarran House, 1722. Christian Shaw returns home, spending every waking hour perfecting the thread bleaching process that will revive her family’s fortune. If only she can make it white enough, perhaps her past sins will be purified too.But dark forces are at work. As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch burnings approaches, ravens circle Bargarran House, their wild cries stirring memories and triggering visions.As Christian’s mind begins to unravel, her states of delusion threaten the safety of all those who cross her path. In the end she must make a terrible her mind or her soul? Poverty and madness, or a devil’s bargain for the bleaching process that will make her the most successful businesswoman Paisley has ever seen?Her fate hangs by a thread. Which will she choose?
Thank you, Silver Thistle Press and The Write Read Tours, for a copy of my book.
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for Red Runs the Witch’s Thread by Victoria Williamson- historical fiction set in the times of the Witch trails in Scotland.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I loved this novella by Victoria Williamson. There are so many historical fiction books that are based on witch trials, but Red Runs the Witch’s Thread is unique as the main POV character Christian Shaw has not been accused of witchcraft but is the accuser. But despite this I did feel sorry for her- Christian herself is also a victim of the times. Her experience as a young child exposed to adulthood too soon is haunting.
The book packs a lot, despite being a novella, the writing is atmospheric with an almost gothic feel at times. Christian’s desperation to cover her tracks and keep her secrets safe was fascinating if a little terrifying at times.
This was a book I couldn’t put down and finished it one sitting but have to admit it left an impression on me. I did find the historical aspect interesting- I did ending up trying to find out more about Christian and her business.
Perfect for Fans of
Historical fiction about Witch trials
About the Author
Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.
Here is my review of Money and Promises by Paolo Zannoni- a fascinating delve into the history of banking.
In the twelfth-century, Pisa was a powerhouse of global trade, a city that stood at the centre of Medieval Europe. But Pisa had a problem. It was running out of coins. In the face of a looming financial crisis, the city’s rulers and its moneylenders forged a deal that laid the foundations of the modern state and of present-day banking.In Money and Promises, the distinguished banker and scholar Paolo Zannoni examines the extraordinary relationship between states and banks. He draws upon seven case the republic of twelfth-century Pisa, seventeenth-century Venice, the early years of the Bank of England, Imperial Spain, the Kingdom of Naples, the nascent USA during the American Revolution, and Bolshevik Russia in 1917–21. Spanning a multitude of countries, political systems and historical eras, Zannoni shows that at the heart of our institutions lies an intricate exchange of debt and promises that has shaped the modern world.Featuring pioneering research and original insights, this authoritative yet accessible book explores the vital relationship upon which our financial and political systems still depend.
Thank you @Head of Zeus for my copy of this book
Review
I really enjoyed Money and Promises by Paolo Zannoni – a book about the fascinating history of banking.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The writing in this non-fiction book is accessible to anyone who doesn’t have specialist knowledge of money or finances. The book is easy to read although it isn’t a book you can whizz through.
Each chapter covers a different and important event in the history of money and banking- and is a great history lesson in how our modern banking system came to be. I never quite understood why debt seemed to be so lightly considered by financial institutions just before the crash in 2008 but this book describes how debt and the promises to pay debt formed the basis of banking.
Starting in Pisa in the twelfth century where traders needed a way to manage their money and ending in Soviet Russia where traders needed to also manage their money in an innovative way – the book covers the developing banking system around the world.
I loved how banking in England involved making notches on sticks, sometimes very long sticks and how churches pragmatically came up with a system of loaning money without breaching Rome’s edict on interest.
But the best parts were when the author uses his own experiences in these complicated systems and his fascination and passion for money.
The illustrations and photos are lovely to touch and adds a lovely visual feel to the book.
Perfect for Fans of
Non-fiction books on money and the history of banking.
Here is my review of The Library Theif by Kuchenga Shenje- historical fiction
1897. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. but as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame – and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester. Intercepting her father’s latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and full of secrets – but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife. Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realises with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield’s wife – which may hold the clue to her fate . . .
Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for e ARC
Publication date 9th April 2024
Review
Here is my review of The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shene- historical fiction with gothic undertones with a story I wasn’t I was expecting with that blurb!
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
When I read the blurb to The Library Thief, I was expecting a gothic mystery with some romance and plenty of books. But this wasn’t that story.
The story starts much like any gothic mystery- a single ,penniless young woman, a job in a huge, creepy manor, eccentric staff, a distant Lord of the manor and a mystery that needs to be solved. But then the story takes an unexpected turn and becomes more historical fiction focussing on the issues of race and the plight of women in Victorian times.
Even though this wasn’t the story I was expecting, I enjoyed the story and learning about black Britons in Victorian society-something I know very little of us.
The writing in this book is atmospheric and descriptive with some interesting characters. All the secondary characters have a fascinating backstory, but I didn’t warm to any of them except for the footman.
The book has some dark and disturbing themes particularly around sexual violence but there is an optimistic and uplifting ending.
Content Warning
References to sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, racism, and misogyny
Perfect for fans of
So, this book would be ideal for anyone who likes serious historical fiction but not if you were hoping for a bookish gothic romance.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Grand Illusion by Syd Moore-Historical Fiction inspired by a strange, true alleged event!
JUNE 1940.As Hitler prepares to invade Britain, a secret office hidden away in Whitehall is catapulted into a frenzy of activity and expansion. Aware of the Nazis’ obsession with the occult, the British Secret Service sets out to exploit this potential weakness in the enemy’s high command.Twenty-two-year-old Daphne Devine is performing on the London stage as assistant to magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka ‘The Grand Mystique’, when the secret service calls.Daphne and Jonty find themselves far from the glitz and glamour of the theatre, deep inside the lower levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Here they join secret ranks of astrologers, illusionists and other theatre performers co-opted to the war effort.Soon Daphne realizes she must risk everything if there is any chance of saving her country…In the opener to a new historical fiction series Syd Moore brings her unique perspective to a different period – the Second World War.
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Grand Illusion by Syd Moore-Historical Fiction inspired by a strange, alleged true event!
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I was drawn to this book because of its strange inspiration. The author has based her story on an alleged event that took place during World War 2. The secret service- allegedly- staged amagical ritual called the ‘Cone Of Power’ to dissuade Hitler not to invade Britain.
Daphne, is the young Magicians assistant who becomes caught up in this operation and patriotic duty despite her mother being detained in an interment camp because of her heritage. Daphne is a strong ,funny capable women who rises up to the occasion despite her life being placed in danger a few times. I liked the interaction between Jonty and Daphne as well as their illusions which sound impressive.
Daphne and Jonty meet a range of interesting people both civilian and military in the bowels of Wormwood scrubs to plan their daring plan and the interactions between astrologers, theatre performers and the military was a highlight.The author captures the atmosphere of war time Britain, and you can feel the underlying tension as the story progresses.The tension builds as the story progresses to the final finale and I have to confess, the final event sounds magical even if it was staged!
I really enjoyed this book, especially as there were so many aspects of World War 2 , I was not aware of such as the British internment camps that tore families apart. But I loved how the author described Daphne’s mother dealing with this and the reaction of the people working in the camp.
This is the first of a series, and I would love to see what Daphne has to do next to help her country.
Perfect for Fans of
Who like World War two fiction with an unusual slant.
THE GRAND ILLUSION is inspired by an event alleged to have taken place in the New Forest in the summer of 1940 – a spectacular magical ritual – “The Cone of Power” – that would be witnessed by German agents in the area and reported back to the Führer. Its goal: to avert invasion on British shores.
About The Author
SYD MOORE is currently Essex Libraries’ first Author in Residence. Twice shortlisted for a CWA Dagger, she is best known for her Essex Witch Museum Mysteries, a series that explores the witch trials in Essex between 1560 to 1680. The series was shortlisted for the Good Reader Holmes and Watson Award in 2018 and 2019. Syd founded the Essex Girls’ Liberation Front and successfully got the term ‘Essex Girl’ removed from the Oxford dictionary in 2020. Her debut screenplay, Witch West will go into production in 2024. She lives in Essex. @SydMoore1
I’m pleased to be part of the Blog Tour for Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan, her follow up to In The Blink Of An Eye.
One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic. It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . . When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case. But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the Blog Tour for Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan, her follow up to In The Blink Of An Eye( review here).
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I loved the concept of AI partnering up with a human detective in The Blink of Eye, so I was excited to read the second instalment in this series and I wasn’t disappointed.
Kat, and her team including AI Locke and his creator, Professor Okonedo who has her own personal history with the police have to solve a gruesome murder, But unfortunately the team becomes the focus of media attention when the details of the murder are discovered. Unfortunately, the killer strikes again leading to panic as well putting Kat and her team in the firing line. Debbie and Rayan have their own personal battles with Debbie’s about to have a baby and Rayan’s unsuccessful attempt to befriend Prof Okondo.
As in the previous book for me , the underlying murder mystery takes second place to the developing relationship between Locke and Kat, Locke is developing a personality, one that is suitably sarcastic as well developing some human emotions. Kat’s own development as woman learning to navigate life with out her late husband and son forms an essential emotional core to the book and one will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one.
But the murder is suitably gruesome with plenty of suspects and motives for those readers who just want to a read a crime thriller .The action moves quickly with plenty of clues and revelations towards a thrilling ( and emotional) climax.
The book end with an eerie cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next.
I enjoyed this historical cosy mystery by Holly Hepburn, here is my review of The Missing Maid
London, 1932.When Harriet White rebuffs the advances of her boss at the Baker Street building society where she works, she finds herself demoted to a new position… a very unusual position. Deep in the postal department beneath the bank, she is tasked with working her way through a mountain of correspondence addressed to Baker Street’s most famous resident: Mr Sherlock Holmes. Seemingly undeterred by the fact that Sherlock Holmes doesn’t exist, letter after letter arrives, beseeching him to help solve mysteries, and Harry diligently replies to each writer with the same response: Mr Holmes has retired from detective work and now lives in Sussex, keeping bees. Until one entreaty catches her eye. It’s from a village around five miles from Harry’s family estate, about a young woman who went to London to work as a domestic, then disappeared soon afterwards in strange circumstances. Intrigued, Harry decides, just this once, to take matters into her own hands.
And so, the case of the missing maid is opened…
Review
I enjoyed this historical cosy mystery by Holly Hepburn, here is my review of The Missing Maid inspired by the fact the Abby Bank at Bakers Street hired someone to answer post addressed to Sherlock Holmes!
I received a free copy for a free and unbiased opinion.
This is a charming cosy mystery set in 1932’s London- a time when people still wrote to Sherlock Holmes hoping he would solve their problems. Harry, finds herself banished to the basement to work in the postal office dealing with mountain of post addressed to the fictional detective but then finds herself trying to solve one.
Harry is woman ahead of her times, a woman from a wealthy background who went rebuffing the advances of a man is punished even though everyone seems to suspect what is going on. But Harry, finds a way to help one of the letters- a young desperate to find her missing sister. I enjoyed Harry’s attempts at disguises and her attempts at trying to solve the mystery.
There is a hint of romance between Harry and Oliver, her brother’s friend and a solicitor who finds himself involved in solving the mystery.
It’s another Top Ten Tuesday and its my Top Ten Autumn
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week is an exciting one- Movies or TV Shows that would have made amazing books. It is a short list as I realised many of my favourite TV shows and films are based on books. So here we go.
Haven
This series about a Maine town between by supernatural troubles was actually based on a Stephen King’s Novella What Killed the Colorado Kid. The Colorado did appear in the TV show, but Haven is completely different show and I would love to read more about this world and the history behind it.
Supernatural
This long running series about two brothers who fight demons ( and other evil creatures )would make an excellent series of books with each book dedicated to an adventure.
Extraordinary
I love this comedy which follows a twenty something woman without a power in a world where everyone has a power and her chaotic friends but I would love to read about how the world changed and why.
Line of Duty
This tense show about a department dedicated to finding corrupt police officers in the Met would make a great thriller.
Back to Future
A great film which I think could the basis of a great book.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This is one of my favourite films and it would make a great romance.
Here is my review of this mind-bending science fiction, Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavarres.
Fox is a memory editor – one of the best – gifted with the skill to create real life in the digital world. When he wakes up in Field of Reeds Center for Memory Reconstruction with no idea how he got there, the therapists tell him he was a victim in a terrorist bombing by Khadija Banks, the pioneer of memory editing technology turned revolutionary. A bombing which shredded the memory archives of all its victims, including his husband Gabe.Thrust into reconstructions of his memories exploded from the fragments that survived the blast, Fox tries to rebuild his life, his marriage and himself. But he quickly realises his world is changing, unreliable, and echoing around itself over and over. As he unearths endless cycles of meeting Gabe, falling in love and breaking up, Fox digs deep into his past, his time in the refugee nation of Aaru, and the exact nature of his relationship with Khadija. Because, in a world tearing itself apart to forget all its sadness, saving the man he loves might be the key to saving us all.
Review
Here is my review of this mind-bending science fiction, Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavarres.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
This is a book, that needs your full attention, and I found this a challenging ( in a good way) book. This story moves from strand to another, with these strands making sense at the end. The story twists and turns in unexpected ways which each new reveal adding a new layer to this complex plot.
The underlying theme is about memory and who we are if these edited or deleted at will but at its heart is the love story between Fox and Gabe.
It was hard to warm to Fox when the chapters were in his point of view but this changed when we view Fox through the people around him. There were times when I had no idea what was going on in the story but by the end of book, I did have more of an idea as to what had happened and why.
The world-building in the future of memory edited, physical trainers can inhabit your body to help you and virtual pets is fascinating.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for the Murder in Moscow by Kelly Oliver.
1918 Moscow Will following her heart mean losing her head? It could mean losing her job. Fiona Figg trails her nemesis Fredrick Fredricks to Moscow. But when she arrives at the grand Metropol Hotel, the bounder has vanished. After Fiona doesn’t show up for work at the War Office, Kitty Lane raises a red flag and tracks her to Russia. Seeking haven at the British Embassy, Kitty and Fiona become embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Bolshevik government. But the plot turns deadly when Fiona goes undercover as a governess in the household of Iron Viktor, the Bolsheviks’ Head of Secret Police. And when Viktor turns up dead in his study, Fiona finds herself wanted for murder and on the lam. Can Fiona and Kitty find the real killer and escape the Kremlin before it’s too late? Or will this dangerous game of Russian roulette be their last?
I enjoyed the fifth instalment in the Kitty Lane and Fiona Rigg mysteries. Here is my review of Murder in Moscow by Kelly Oliver- historical thriller.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Although, this is the fifth book in the series, Murder in Moscow can be read as a standalone without any difficulty. Although I would recommend reading all the books the series to truly appreciate Fiona’s complicated love life.
As always, the book is based on real events in history, and I was fascinated to read about the Ambassador plot and how Russia changed when the Bolsheviks came to power. I was fascinated with the Tsarist movement and their plot to bring the Tsar back to power.
Fiona has run off to Moscow following her heart ( or lust) to be with the Fredricks but of course becomes embroiled with a Countess and thrown into prison. Kitty comes to her rescue and but Fiona has to go undercover as Nanny in the head of secret service household.
There is plenty of action, humour and of course romance with a murder mystery thrown in. Kitty has more of role in this book with her own POV chapters, but she remains as mysterious as ever. I would have liked to have more Clifford but Fiona finally makes a choice between her two men!
Fiona remains a complicated mix of a woman who leads a free life and enjoys espionage but is also prim and proper but as always, she has a hilarious view on life.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I loved the Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu ( review here), so I can’t wait to read this.
Once there was a prophecy that a chosen one would rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, an immortal god-king.But the prophecy was wrong.Now Jian, the former chosen hero, is just an ordinary young man trying to find his own way. But he may yet have an extraordinary destiny, because he joins forces with Taishi, his grumpy grandmaster, who instructs him in the ways of her family’s powerful war art. Jian still has a long way to go before he can become her heir, so she recruits a band of elderly grandmasters who come out of retirement to whip him into shape and help with this one last job.And there are others who are also seeking their own destiny, like Qisami, an assassin on a secret mission to protect a powerful noblewoman from her enemies. But as Qisami goes undercover to complete her mission, she takes on a new identity that gives her something she never had before: friendship, found family, and new purpose.Sali also thought her fate was laid before her. She was supposed to be looking for the next Eternal Khan and now finds her clan exiled from everything she’s ever known. As she leads the survivors in search of a new home, Sali discovers that she’s something she never thought she could be: a leader and a revolutionary. Because sometimes destiny is grander than any prophecy can foresee. And the greatest destiny of all is the one you choose for yourself.
The Instruments of Darkness by John Connolly
I can’t wait to read the latest instalment of the Charlie Parker books ( series review here)
From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve. In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built. A house, and what dwells beneath.
Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde
The second book in the shades of grey book has been a long time coming and I can’t wait to read this
Imagine a world where your position in society depended on what bit of the colour spectrum you could see. This is the world inhabited by Eddie Russett (red, middle-level) and Jane Grey (monochromatic, lowest in society). Eddie and Jane must negotiate the delicate Chromatic politics of society to find out what the ‘Something that Happened’ actually was, how society got to be this way, and crucially, is there Somewhere Else beyond their borders – and if there is, could there be Someone Else, too, someone whose unseen hand has been guiding the fortunes and misfortunes of the nation for the past 500 years? It’s a tale of a young couple’s thirst for justice and answers in an implacably rigid society, where the prisoners are also the guards, and cages of convention bind the citizens to only one way of thinking – or suffer the consequences. .
The Familiar by Leigh Burdugo
Leigh Burdugo is fast becoming one of my auto read author.
In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.
Evocation by S.T Gibson
This sounds like fun
As a teen, David Aristarkhov was a psychic prodigy, operating under the shadow of his oppressive occultist father. Now, years after his father’s death and rapidly approaching his thirtieth birthday, he is content with the high-powered life he’s curated as a Boston attorney, moonlighting as a powerful medium for his secret society. But with power comes a price, and the Devil has come to collect on an ancestral deal. David’s days are numbered, and death looms at his door. Reluctantly, he reaches out to the only person he’s ever trusted, his ex-boyfriend and secret Society rival Rhys, for help. However, the only way to get to Rhys is through his wife, Moira. Thrust into each other’s care, emotions once buried deep resurface, and the trio race to figure out their feelings for one another before the Devil steals David away for good…
High Vaultage By Chris and Jen Sugden
Another book that sounds like a whole lot of fun
An uninterrupted urban plane encompassing the entire lower half of England and, for complex reasons, only the upper third of the Isle of Wight. The immense Tower casts electricity through the sky, powering the mind-boggling mechanisms of the city. The engineer-army of Isambard Kingdom Brunel swarms across the capital, building, demolishing, and rebuilding whatever they see fit. And at the heart of it all sits the country’s first private detective agency. Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwhistle hoped things would pick up quickly for their new enterprise. No-one is taking them seriously, but their break will come soon. Definitely. Probably. Meanwhile, police are baffled by a series of impossible bank robberies, their resources absorbed by the case. Which means that when a woman witnesses a kidnapping, Fleet-Entwhistle Private Investigations is the only place she can turn for help. They’re more than happy to oblige! But what’s the motive behind the kidnap? As Clara and Fleet investigate, they find more than they could ever have imagined . . .
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
A book about books and portals- two of my favourite things
In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It’s a book – an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want. But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals – individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses. Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons – a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .Because some doors should never be opened.
The Mercy of Gods by S. A Corey
The Expanse ( series review here) is one of my all time favourite series ,so I can’t wait to see what the two authors come up with next.
The Carryx—part empire, part hive—have waged wars of conquest for centuries, destroying or enslaving species across the galaxy. Now, they are facing a great and deathless enemy. The key to their survival may rest with the humans of Anjiin. Caught up in academic intrigue and affairs of the heart, Dafyd Alkhor is pleased just to be an assistant to a brilliant scientist and his celebrated research team. Then the Carryx ships descend, decimating the human population and taking the best and brightest of Anjiin society away to serve on the Carryx homeworld, and Dafyd is swept along with them. They are dropped in the middle of a struggle they barely understand, set in a competition against the other captive species with extinction as the price of failure. Only Dafyd and a handful of his companions see past the Darwinian contest to the deeper game that they must play to survive: learning to understand—and manipulate—the Carryx themselves. With a noble but suicidal human rebellion on one hand and strange and murderous enemies on the other, the team pays a terrible price to become the trusted servants of their new rulers.
Dafyd Alkhor is a simple man swept up in events that are beyond his control and more vast than his imagination. He will become the champion of humanity and its betrayer, the most hated man in history and the guardian of his people.
This is where his story begins.
Thank you for stopping by , please leave a link to your TTT
Ren arrives in Naderza with the purpose of conning an old noble family by pretending to be a long lost relative and trying to escape her own dangerous past by using multiple identities and disguises. But how long can she keep this up and does she want to?
These books have multiple plots and subplots with some subplots having subplots with many complicated characters .
The main point of view of characters are Ren, Vargo and Grey who all have their own motives and agendas.
Ren has become one of my favourite fantasy characters. Her character development a woman without roots and family who arrived in Nadezra to con people out of their money to a nuanced, strong woman who has found her family both born and made- people who she would give her life too. Ren isn’t the only one who has undergone a change , Vargo- the complicated villain from the first book continues his redemption and finds his family too.
The books are huge, I normally can finish a book in a day or two but these books took me a good week to finish- not just because of the length of the book but also because of the many varied and complex plots and subplots.
The world building is detailed and intricate, with an interesting history describing an almost colonial past where the Liganti have taken subjugated the natural citizens of the land through dark and powerful magic.
The pace never falters and is full of action, magic, and romance as well as plenty of betrayals and political intrigue and little unexpected twists. And how could I forget, The Rook, the masked vigilante who Ren finds herself entangled with and as a result ends up becoming The Rose- another masked vigilante and another identity for Ren to struggle.
The books while full of action are never violent or graphic with some scenes almost poetic in their description
Content Warning
Child abuse, references to suicide.
Perfect for Fans
Lymond Chronicles ( review here) ,The Bone Shard Emperor ( review here)and Found family.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for High Vaultage- steampunk science fiction.
EVEN GREATER LONDON, 1887.
An uninterrupted urban plane encompassing the entire lower half of England and, for complex reasons, only the upper third of the Isle of Wight. The immense Tower casts electricity through the sky, powering the mind-boggling mechanisms of the city. The engineer-army of Isambard Kingdom Brunel swarms across the capital, building, demolishing, and rebuilding whatever they see fit. And at the heart of it all sits the country’s first private detective agency.
Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwhistle hoped things would pick up quickly for their new enterprise. No-one is taking them seriously, but their break will come soon. Definitely. Probably.
Meanwhile, police are baffled by a series of impossible bank robberies, their resources absorbed by the case. Which means that when a woman witnesses a kidnapping, Fleet-Entwhistle Private Investigations is the only place she can turn for help. They’re more than happy to oblige!
But what’s the motive behind the kidnap? As Clara and Fleet investigate, they find more than they could ever have imagined . . .
Thank you #NetGalley and Gollanzc for my eARC
Review
I loved High Vaultage by Chris and Jen Sugden- hilarious, steampunk sci-fi featuring engineers with unclear motives.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The world- building In High Vaultage is some of the best I’ve read. This isn’t just because automons that just don’t seem to work ( I loved the one writing non-offensive obituaries), the army of engineers who never stops working or defying death through mechanical engineering. The difference in this book compared to others is how society reacts to such technology- from the opening where a woman takes joy in destroying automons to Fleet being dismissed from the police as there is no paperwork for people who have come to back to life. This happens in the background of the overall mystery of the kidnapping and bank robberies.
The plot moves quickly from one revelation to another, and I appreciated how all the strands of the sub-plots come together in the end. There were plenty of moments where I found myself laughing!
Clara and Fleet make a great investigating couple, Fleet desperation to get back to the police and his frustration with the bureaucracy that won’t move from the fact that he was once dead. Clara’s own determined ambition to be independent in male dominated world is the perfect foil.
I haven’t heard the authors’ podcast, but it is now one my list of podcasts to listen to, and I really hope there are more books set in Clara and Fleet’s world ( even if it is the case the book ends on!)
Perfect for fans of
Ben Aaronovitch, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett.
About the authors
High Vaultage is publishing with Gollancz on 14th March, and is a debut novel from the husband-and-wife writing duo. The book is set in the same world as their podcast, Victoriocity which has a new season releasing this Spring.
Here is my review of Relight My Fire By C K Mc Donnell
Some comebacks can be murder . . . Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn’t just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this? Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper’s editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what those entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity ‘Who’s Who’ that’d put a royal wedding to shame, and you’re looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .
I loved this addition to hilarious The Stranger Times urban fantasy series- here is review of Relight My Fire by C. K McDonnell.
I admit I had a bit of FOMO when I didn’t get to read Relight My Fire before its release and had to wait till it came out officially. But it was worth the wait.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, you can just jump into this book without having read the other books- you are quickly brought up to speed with overarching themes.
Banecroft, the editor at The Stranger Times ( a newspaper dedicated to exposing the strange and wonderful) is as grumpy as ever but now with a touch of guilt for his past actions and worried about going to hell. Stella, trying her hand at being a normal student, Ox and Reggie are still bickering with Hannah and Grace keeping them all together.
When a man falls to his death in front of Stella after seeming to fly, they are drawn along with their favourite policeman into finding out why.
The book races along with one vivid and imaginative concept to another, with so many laugh out moments- with dead famous people making a comeback, evil scientists, has been popstars and larger than life strip club manager.
Manchester still plays a starring role- it is so refreshing to see a book set in a Northern City instead of London. We also get to learn a little more about the Founders, Fae and Wiven as well meet a few new characters as well some old ones.
Here is my review of the The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes- Chapman- gothic historical fiction.
Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can’t speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined to find answers.
Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, lives a lonely life. Her father is long dead, her mother haunted by demons which keep her locked away in her room, and her cousin treats her with cool disdain – she has had no choice but to become fiercely self-reliant.
Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry’s investigations that the truth about those closest to her will come to light…a truth that will bind hers and Henry’s destinies together in ways neither thought possible.
Review
Here is my review of The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes- Chapman- gothic historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
It might have been me but I was expecting a little bit more of the supernatural with Shadow Key but this was more a historical fiction with gothic undertones- it had the feel of The Hound of The Baskervilles.
I really enjoyed reading about Wales and its society, its relationship with England and the how the Welsh culture was slowly being stamped out. The author has added rich historical detail which I found fascinating along with snippets of Welsh throughout the book.
There are a few unexpected twists and few I saw coming. Henry and Linette are the main point of view characters and Henry’s slow acceptance of the Welsh village was heart-warming. Unfortunately, if you are a gothic fan and have a read widely, the answers Henry and Linette seek are obvious- however it I would still recommend the book as it was enjoyable read.
Here is my review of Shigidi and The Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi- a truly unique fantasy.
Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining believers to maintain his existence long enough to find his next drink. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes for him. Together, they attempt to break free of his obligations and the restrictions that have bound him to his godhood and navigate the parameters of their new relationship in the shadow of her past. But the elder gods that run the Orisha spirit company have other plans for Shigidi, and they are not all aligned–or good. From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the swanky rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter old acquaintances, rival gods, strange creatures, and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a web of revenge, spirit business, and a spectacular heist across two worlds that will change Shigidi’s understanding of himself forever and determine the fate of the Orisha spirit company.
Review
I loved this contemporary fantasy, Shigidi and The Brass Head of Obalufon by Woke Talbi is unlike another other fantasy I have read.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The setting and mythology behind Shigidi is refreshing bold and new- this isn’t your usual fantasy moved to an exotic environment but something completely new. I haven’t had to concentrate on a story for a long time, to make sure I kept on top of each new character or concept.
But the underlying story is a love story between two powerful and old beings trying to find their way in new an modern world.-Nmeoma is a slightly disillusioned succubus who doesn’t lose herself in love and Shigidi is a disgruntled god who does. And of course, this is complicated by a heist to steal an object across the real and spirit world.
The Old Gods and beings in this world are work through corporations aligned with countries. There are hostile takeovers, espionage, targets that must be met and battles against people encroaching on their business territories which does make sense as to why there are so many religions. The story travels from Lagos to London to Malayasia to the Sprit world.
The non-linear way of presenting the story works with stories from Nneoma’s and Shigidi’s past and how they ended up together. I had no idea how this book was going to end but the ending was perfect and hope there are more books set in the world. I would like to see how Shigidi. Olurun ( Chairman of the Orisha Spirit Company) and Nnemona’s story continues.
This is perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy heists or are a bit bored of the usual fantasies.
I loved The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown- a riveting book about magical books
In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It’s a book – an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door . What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want. But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals – individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses. Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons – a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . . Because some doors should never be opened.
Review
I loved The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown- a riveting book about magical books.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I couldn’t put this beautifully written book down- I tend to favour plot over writing but I couldn’t help and fall in love with Gareth Brown’s writing. His descriptions of the streets of Venice, magical doors and even a sandwich shop in New York are vivid in their descriptions and made me wish I had my own Book that could open a door to any place.
The story is intricate with plenty of well fleshed out heroes and villains with their own backstories. This may sound like a soft, whimsical book, so I was taken by surprise by some of graphic violence and cruelty that pops up in the book. The villain simply named ‘The Woman’ adds tension and suspense to the story and there were times when I wasn’t sure how the heroes would succeed.
This isn’t just about magic- the love between friends and the family they can become forms the heart of this book and this tempers some of the darker themes.
This book is definitely one of the best books I have read in the last few years.
Here is my review of To Cage a God By Elizabeth May- Slavic inspired fantasy
Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera’s mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire―no matter the cost. With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn. While Sera reunites with her estranged lover turned violent rebel leader, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina’s secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a choice: work together to expose the lies of the empire―or bring it all down.
Thank you, Black Crow PR and Daphne Press for my copy
Review
Here is my review of To Cage a God By Elizabeth May- Slavic inspired fantasy with a strong romantic flavour.
To Cage a God is a bit of a misleading title as the Gods ( or dragons) have already been caged or rather attached to humans. The ruling class have inherited their caged gods and lord over the rest of the population literally ( the rest are called supplicants). Sera and Galina are two sisters who are their exception in that their mother has manage to attach Gods to them in an effort to defeat the powerful and of course evil Empress ( and the nobility).
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book was a quick read and entertaining. loved the chapters from Sera’s point of view and would have happily read more about her and her poor judgement in men but the POV’s are shared between her and a few other people. The POVs seemed to slow down the pace of the book and the action ( when I really wanted to know what was going to happen next) but then they do highlight he romantic elements of the book.
But while the plot moves quickly with lots of action and magic but the romance, seemed to take precedence to the sisters getting on and kick- starting the revolution. I would have liked to learn more about the society, the magic, the science, and the politics. Hopefully we will find out more about this world in the next book.
While the book is heavy on the romance, there are some darker themes particularly around the Empress’s treatment of her handmaiden, Katya and her subjects
Despite the traditional feel of the story, the characters are diverse including a point of view character with a long term condition that effects her life.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for Jubilee by Stephen K Stanford- science fiction.
It was meant to be an in and out mission. Jubilee is a lawless, artificial world existing within its own parallel universe; a seething cesspool of vice ruled by an eccentric AI. So people say . Detectives Col and Danee are sent to Jubilee on a hastily organised mission to recover the body of a leading conservative politician (someone it seems, has been a naughty boy). But the corpse has been switched and the imperilled partners are drawn together. They might be falling in love, or they might be saving the galaxy – either way the authorities will not be pleased.
Thank you, Random Book Tours and Flame Tree Press, for my copy of the book.
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for this funny science-fiction with a political undertone. Here is my review of Jubilee by Stephen K Stanford.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I loved the world-building in this book. The story jumps from one planet to another and each of the planets have their own detailed history, culture, clothes, customs and tech with Jubilee being the most decadent of them all- a Las Vegas in space run by a slightly emotional AI. While Jubilee was fun, my favourite has to be the gender flipped planet, Grendeva where the women have taken over when the men made a complete mess of running the planet.
There are darker political themes that drive the story- the political rhetoric of the M2M and their slow ,insidious take over is the under lying theme and is uncomfortably too familiar. But these are tempered by the book’s humour particularly the predicaments Col gets into and how he gets out of them.
The book is well worth the read for the description of anti-gravity theme park on Jubilee- I really wish I could go to one!
Content warning
References to torture,suicide, child abuse
About The Author
Stephen K. Stanford has been aserial entrepreneur since the age of twenty-one, launching numerous projects in the arts, fashion and music industries. He fell in love with books as achild, devouring his fathers’ vast ‘golden age’ sci-fi collection,and lives in Melbourne with his wife and two highly truculent Siamese cats.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for Mr Magenta by Christopher Bowden
Stephen Marling thought he knew his aunt Flora. But when he inherits her house in a quiet south London square a series of discoveries among her papers brings to light another person entirely. Who, for example, is ‘Mr Magenta’ and what part did he play in her life? In the process of uncovering the secrets of one life, Stephen is forced to re-evaluate his own and decide what he really wants. Was he right to turn his back on Nancy Steiner, the young actress he met in New York, when he came home to take up his inheritance? Interweaving past and present, the story takes him from a Brooklyn bookshop to a theatre in Marseille to a cottage on the east coast of England where the truth about Mr Magenta is finally revealed.
Thank you, Random Things Tours and Langton and Wood, for a copy of my book.
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for this lovely literary fiction- here is my review of Mr Magenta by Christopher Bowden.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Mr Magenta is gentle exploration of grief and regret which is beautifully written. Stephen becomes intrigued with the identity of Mr Magenta and his relationship with his Aunt Flora. But while investigating his identity Christopher discovers his aunt’s secrets and tragic past.
But this isn’t a mystery with twists and turns but more a journey. Christopher travels take to him to new places and to new friends. He also learns to accept the love story in his own life as he learns as about his aunt’s life.
I finished the book in one sitting, and it was hard to put the book down with each new revelation.
This is one of the few books I have read that left me with a warm and fuzzy glow with a heartwarming ending.
Content warning
References to the death of child.
Christopher Bowden Biography
Christopher Bowden lives in south London. He is the author of six novels, each with a colour theme. The Amber Maze, published in September 2018, is the latest. His previous books have been praised variously by Andrew Marr, Julian Fellowes, Sir Derek Jacobi, and Shena Mackay. Of his third novel, The Red House, Sir Derek said, “Very entertaining, cleverly constructed and expertly paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Here is my review of The Art Of Prophecy by Wesley Chu, book one in the fantasy series, The War Arts Saga.
The prophecy is clear: Wen Jian is the Chosen One, born to defeat the immortal Eternal Khan and save the kingdom. The only problem is that the prophecy is wrong.Jian has been raised in splendor, trained by the best warriors, and celebrated before a single battle has been won. After all, he’s the chosen one, selected by prophecy to defeat the immortal god-king and free the kingdom for good. But when the prophecy is proven to be incorrect, Jian still has to find a way to succeed―and maybe even become a hero in his own right.To save the kingdom, an unlikely band of heroes rise: Taishi, an old grandmaster who swore her days of battle were over; Sali, a warrior re-evaluating her allegiances; and Qisami, an assassin with questionable values. Together, the four embark on a journey more wondrous than any prophecy could forsee.
Thank you @Black Crow PR and Daphne Press for my copy of this book
Review
I loved The Art Of Prophecy by Wesley Chu, book 1 of The War Arts Saga, this fantasy has it all- action, magic, amazing world-building, humour, a riveting plot and some of the most compelling characters I have come across.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I came across The Art of Prophecy because of my blogging and I’m so glad I did. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next book.
The Chosen One trope has been done to death but what happens if the Chosen One doesn’t get to fulfil his destiny because someone has beat him to it. The book explores the fallout for the chosen one, and the people who believe as well as a whole range of other themes.
The story is told from the points of view of Jian, the chosen one, Sali, the Viperstrike from the conquered country, Qiasmi, an edgy assassin and my Taishi, a grumpy, fierce older warrior.
The world-building was one of my favourite parts, the author has created an amazing landscape from high mountains with ancient and forgotten temples to floating cities in capsules to an underground town buried deep with trains that fall vertically down to reach them. Each new place was unique and beautifully described. The result of the Khan’s death on his people is tragic and the plight of displaced people struggling to survive is familiar and tragic.
The plot moves quickly but the fight scenes are exceptional, these scenes are vivid with a touch of poetry in their description. Taishi and her fights with pretty much everyone were a highlight.
Taishi drives much of the humour in the book, an older woman with very little patience and tolerance with most people. There were some moments I did laugh out loud- anyone who has accidentally jumped a queue in England will certainly empathise with Taishi when she is punished for being a queue jumper!
The chemistry between, the dedicated to her principles, Sali and the quirky yet dangerous Qiasmi sizzled and hints at a future relationship- one I would love to read about ( unusual for me as I’m not a huge fan of the romantic stuff).
Content warning.
References to parental grief
Perfect for Fans of
Well-written fantasy in non-European settings, or fantasies with humour
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley- a dystopian feminist tale.
In Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you. Trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free. When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might finally be in their grasp. But as she gets closer to Winston Smith, Julia’s past starts to catch up with her and we soon realise that she has many more secrets than we’d first imagined – and that overthrowing Big Brother might cost her everything – but if you have nothing left to lose then you don’t mind playing the game . . . This is a story about love, about family, about being a woman, a mother, a sister, a friend and ultimately about what you would sacrifice for the greater good.
Thank you, Random Things Tour and Simon and Schuster, for my copy of the book
Review
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for this dystopian feminist tale, here is my review of The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley- a book I couldn’t put down!
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The Sisterhood is set in the world of George Orwell’s 1984- just in case you need a refresher this is a dystopian classic about a man called Winston Smith who eventually succumbs to Big Brother. Julia plays a tiny part in the book.
In The Sisterhood, Julia is the main point of view character, and we see the World of Big Brother through a woman’s eyes. In this world, society is deeply unequal- The world of The Inner Party where people live well with good schools .food, freedom to travel and money, The Outer Party and the Proles- the rest of the population living a dismal existence with constant surveillance, scarcity and poverty. But across all layers of societies, women have restricted opportunities and their very reason for existence is being threatened with the development of artificial childbearing. Julia and her friends are part of The Sisterhood, a group dedicated to finding The Brotherhood until one of their own is betrayed and disappears from their life.
The world-building while based on George Orwell’s dystopian view has been brought up to date with our own advances but still stays true to the overall oppressive feeling of 1984. You can feel Julia’s increasing suffocation of being watched and judged all the time.
Julia herself is a complex yet riveting character, a woman driven by her own bitter past to change the future in any way she can. Even though I knew that this was never going to be achieved by non-violent means, I still wanted her to succeed. But her life and choices are limited by society and the men in power which isn’t uncommon in some societies today.
Perfect for Fans of
Well written dystopian stories or science fiction with a feminist slant
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Bradley worked for many years managing services for people who are marginalised by society; her work has taken her into prisons, mental health hospitals and alongside the homeless. She currently works in education. She holds a first-class degree in English Literature, in addition to qualifications in creative writing and teaching. As Kate Bradley, she published two suspense thrillers – To Keep You Safe (2020) and What I Did (2021). Her work has been described as ‘addictive, original and brilliantly twisty’ by T. M. Logan and ‘heart-stopping’ by David Nicholls. Katherine lives in a small coastal town just
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Here are my favourite Enemies to Lovers- one of my favourite romance tropes ( when I’m in a mood for romance).
Jude and Cardan ( The Creul Prince Trilogy by Holly Black)
I came to this series late, but this surprisingly edgy romance features a human who falls in love with Fae Prince after being a tad mean to him!
Hareton and Catherine ( Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte)
This one needs no introduction but the only successful romance between cousins ( best not go there) is the only spark of light in this dark book.
Lymond and Phillipa ( The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett)
The romance between these two builds slowly over several books and is one of my favourites.
Nicholas and Gellis ( House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett)
A complicated romance between two complicated and clever people which takes over several books and made my head spin.
January and Gale ( The Mars House by Natasha Pulley due out in May 2024)
I enjoyed the slow and gentle romance between a person from Mars and a person from Earth.
Nina and Matthias ( The Six of Crows by Leigh Burdago)
These two have been enemies to lovers and back again and then back again.
James and Will ( Dark Heir/ Dark Rise by C. S Pacat)
C. S Pacat knows how to infuse chemistry between her characters without any sexual contact.
Benedict and Marshall ( These Violent Delights by Chloe Long)
I found the romance between the peripheral characters in this Romeo and Juliet inspired book more fascinating than the one between Roma and Juliette.
Thank you for visiting and please leave a link to your TTT
Here is my review of this page-turning conclusion to Empire of the Wolf trilogy by Richard Swan- The Trials of Empire.
THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HAND The Empire of the Wolf is on its knees, but there’s life in the great beast yet. To save it, Sir Konrad Vonvalt and Helena must look beyond its borders for allies – to the wolfmen of the southern plains, and the pagan clans in the north. But old grievances run deep, and both factions would benefit from the fall of Sova. Even these allies might not be enough. Their enemy, the zealot Bartholomew Claver, wields infernal powers bestowed on him by a mysterious demonic patron. If Vonvalt and Helena are to stand against him, they will need friends on both sides of the mortal plane—but such allegiances carry a heavy price. As the battlelines are drawn in both Sova and the afterlife, the final reckoning draws close. Here, at the beating heart of the Empire, the two-headed wolf will be reborn in a blaze of justice . . . or crushed beneath the shadow of tyranny.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
This is a book cannot be read without having read the first two books- the book jumps in straight after the events of Tyranny of Faith where Helena and Konrad are dealing with Bessinger’s death and Carver’s ongoing success in gaining power in Sova. But Helena has additional concerns is Konrad slowly turning to the dark side and becoming more like Carver in his single-minded obsession in stopping him.
Konrad and his slow but sure erosion of his ideals and honour is strong presence throughout the book and you are never sure whether the anti-hero from the second book will become the villain of the third- and this kept me hooked right till the end.
Helena finally comes of age and becomes her own woman, possibly the only person Konrad cares about. Her own doubt about Konrad becomes stronger but she breaks out his shadow to make her own friends and allies as well as her own path.
The Trials of Empire is chockful of action and has much more magic than the other two. The books also shed more light of the religion and society. The world-building continues to be a delight and I love how in this Empire , men and women are equal.
There are some truly gruesome scenes in this book, that definitely gave me the creeps.
Here is my review of Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender- Young Adult Fantasy
For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime. Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic―so when Ash is rejected by the Lancaster Mage’s College, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret. When he’s discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he’s about to be arrested―but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash’s secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power. As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists―Ash’s estranged father included. Ash’s journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.
Review
Here is my review of Infinity Alchemist( Infinity Alchemist Book1 ) by Kacen Callender- Queer Young Adult Fantasy which is heavy on romance.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I had high hopes for this book, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. Once I realised this was a romantic fantasy, I did enjoy it.
Ash is the main point of view character, the illegitimate child of a powerful Alchemist forced to learn Alchemy in bitter secret, but he is a difficult character to like. I like the fact that he is trans and is just accepted by society with no explanation- that is how it is.
The romance between Ash and Ramsay dominates the first third of the book, the romance between Ash and a character introduced in the second third dominates the story and then for the last third, the story focuses on the romance between all three of them in a sweet polyamorous love story.
The actual fantasy about a special book that can give the reader power plays a background role as do the more fascinating elements that I would have liked to read about- the world and society Ash lives in, the houses, and the Alchemy.
There are some unique features of this Alchemy and society which are touched upon such as Ramsey is truly gender fluid as a result of their connection to the source but never in great detail.
The problem I had is the secondary characters are so much more nuanced and interesting than Ash and I was more invested in their stories than Ash’s- Ramsay, the gifted Alchemist living under the shadow of their parents’ heinous crime, Callum, Ramsay’s ex who is desperate for a different life but to scared to live it and Marlowe, the assassin working for Ash’s father. In fact, I would have loved to spend more time with Ash’s parents.
This book has a diverse range of characters and any inequalities in this society are based more on class and alchemy rather than race and sexuality.
Perfect for Fans of
I have no doubt this will appeal to anyone who loves fantasy romance and perhaps those hardcore fantasy lovers who need something a little happier. This is marketed for Young Adults but in my view, this is more suitable for the older end of the age range.
Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber for my eARC
I couldn’t put The Bitter Crown by Justin Lee Anderson down- here is my review of this fantasy.
A war once held in the shadows now escalates into full-scale revolution in the second novel of Justin Lee Anderson’s epic Eidyn Saga. The fog of war is lifted and the conspiracy at the heart of Eidyn finally exposed. Now that they know the truth, Aranok and his allies must find a way to free a country that doesn’t know it’s held captive. But with divided loyalties and his closest friendship shaken, can their alliance hold against overwhelming odds? The quest to retake the country begins here.
Thank you @black crow PR and Orbit Books for my copy.
Review ( Spoilers for The Lost War present in this review so do not read if you haven’t read The Lost War)
The Bitter Crown by Justin Lee Anderson, the second book in The Eidyn Saga is a thrilling follow-up to The Lost War ( review here) and here is my review of this fantasy.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book starts with a handy summary of The Lost War, which is handy, but you can’t just jump into the series without having read the first book. The story picks up from where The Lost War left- Allandria, Aranok, and Samily have their memories back and are on a mission to help the Mynygogg reclaim his throne, restore everyone’s memories, stop the war with the Reivers and cure the blackened. But of course, this is not going to be easy!
As with The Lost War, this book has plenty of action, magic, and action with plenty of twists and turns that I was not expecting. The original group dynamics have changed not just because everyone’s memories have been restored but also because we now have a King and Queen with their own agenda. This adds a whole load more conflict between Aranok and his friends.
There are a few grim scenes ( poor Darginn and his roasted leg) and the death of Shayella’s daughter.
But the most interesting aspect for me was Aranok arc- would he eventually succumb and turn to the dark side with each new setback. The discrimination the Draoidh face both in the present and in the past is horrible and we begin to see how some of the more powerful Draoidh want to see the world change and do anything to achieve this.
I can’t wait to read the next book !
Content Warning
Death of children, descriptions of parental grief.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Here are some of my favourite New to Me authors I discovered in 2023 and will now be following.
I loved The Lost War ( review here) especially the grey lead character and that amazing end.
Suk Pannu
I enjoyed Mrs Sidhu Dead and Scone ( review here) but I loved the podcast and TV programme featuring Meera Syal just a little more but I cant wait to read the next book.
Benard Cornwell
I’m halfway through The Lost Kingdom and these books are full of action,history and political intrigue set in the North East of England.
Jo Callaghan
I enjoyed In The Blink of An Eye ( review here) and can’t wait to read the next instalment of this AI enhanced detective series.
Maiya Ibrahim
The Spice Road (review here) was one of my favourite fantasy reads from 2023.
Natasha Pulley
I loved Mars House ( due out in later in 2024), so I have started to read this author’s backlist. I enjoy her mix of fantasy/sci-fi mixed with a touch of romance.
Mari Hannah
I discovered this author as part of the Kate Daniels readalong but will be reading her extensive backlist. I love these books featuring a woman detective in the North East with a supportive team.
Holly Black
I’m a little late to The Creul Prince but I’m working my way through all the books in this series.
Here is my review of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers- portal fantasy featuring a family with a curse.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt. Violet Everly was just a child when her mother Marianne vanished on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. And when Penelope cannot find her, she issues an Violet has ten years to find Marianne, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer from the curse. Unless she can break it first. To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet whose knowledge of a world beyond her own is too valuable to avoid. Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton
Review
This portal fantasy featuring a cursed family -here is my review of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers.
I received a copy of my book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I love portal fantasies- the idea of accessing new worlds from our own boring world is intriguing and the other world in The City of Stardust is full of libraries, scholars, and forges.
The world-building in the book is beautifully rich in its description and is perhaps the best part of the book ( although I would have loved more detail about the magic and society).
Violet is the young woman trying to find a cure for the family’s curse and avoid dying- a journey that takes her around the world and meeting strange new people who want to help. But her mission is complicated by her attraction to Aleksander, the young man with a damaging past- an attraction I really didn’t get ( from both sides)- a fact that I think affected my complete enjoyment of the book.
But the character that really stands out in the book is Penelope, I loved the wholehearted evilness right till the end. I wish we had more Ambrose and Gabriel, Violets’ Uncles who put their lives on hold to look after a young, gifted child who they know is doomed to follow the same family curse. In fact the older characters in the books are so much more nuanced and interesting than the younger ones!
This book will appeal to so many readers, and even though this wasn’t quite everything I was hoping it to be, I look forward to future books from this author.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for She Can Prosper by Diane Watson- non fiction to help you learn how to manage your finances.
Through her work as a financial advisor, she witnessed far too many women abdicating responsibility for their finances to their partners. The realisation was that women who did not take control of their finances were being left vulnerable and potentially severely impacted later in life. Their lack of knowledge or input into shaping their financial future was the catalyst to write this book.The book aims to provide women of all backgrounds with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to take control of their financial destinies. This book shares not only Diane’s insights and advice on the importance of financial education but also the stories of women who have successfully achieved their financial goals and those who made serious errors of judgment. Diane is driven to share this fundamental message: financial empowerment is the key to unlocking all the opportunities life has to offer. If you want clear advice to help you start creating a financial plan leading to a long-term wealth plan, this book is the place to start.
Review
She Can Prosper by Diane Watson is the non-fiction book I wished I had in my twenties.
I received a copy of a free and unbiased opinion.
This book is aimed at women ( but can be helpful to men too!) who want to take control of their finances and to create prosperity. The advice in the book is easier to read and understand without complicated jargon.
There is tailored advice for women at all stages of their life and in their 20’s, 30’,40’s and 50’s covering all eventualities. The stories from the author’s own life and case studies helps us understand the concepts and issues well.
There is a section on how to improve your mindset for prosperity as well as how to talk to your kids about money which I found useful. I have to admit to looking into critical illness policies and LPA after reading these chapters.
The book also talks about how to manage money in relationships both ongoing and divorced.
There are recommendations on podcasts, books, and websites to help with further financial education.
This slim book is packed full of information and would make the perfect gift for any woman.
About the author
Diane Watson is an award-winning, distinguished financial advisor, entrepreneur, and the passionate founder of ‘She Can Prosper.’With an unshakable belief in empowering women to achieve financial independence, Diane has dedicated her career to guiding individuals towards a secure and prosperous future.Like most people, Diane has faced significant obstacles in life. She wasn’t born into a wealthy family and had very little money when she left university. But through the financial lessons her mother had shared with her, she was driven to achieve as much as possible. Diane has taken big but educated risks, from house relocations to setting up her first business.Her view is that you can afford to take risks if you stay informed and remain continually aware of what’s going on around you.Through her work as a financial advisor, she witnessed far too many women abdicating responsibility for their finances to their partners.The realisation was that women who did not take control of their finances were being left vulnerable and potentially severely impacted later in life. Their lack of knowledge or input into shaping their financial future was the catalyst to write this book.
Here is my review of The Liar’s Knot by M. A Carrick- the second book in this intricate fantasy, The Rook and The Rose.
In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look. Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He’ll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he’s built. Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give. And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city. But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free…
Review
I enjoyed this huge fantasy after a bit of a slow start- here is my review of The Liar’s Knot by M.A Carrick, Book 2 of The Rook and The Rose.
I have to admit to being a bit shocked when I received this book in the post-it is a massive tomb of a book at 638 pages.
This is the second book in the Rook and the Rose series but even with the helpful summary at the start, this isn’t a book you can read without having read the first book, The Mask of Mirrors (review here).
I found the first hundred pages or so hard going, the story seemed bogged down by details but then suddenly the book got exciting. As in the first book, the world building is vivid and intricate with complex magical artifacts and societies, ancient vigilantes, cons and of course masks.
Ren, is the heart of the book, switching between three different personas and trying hard not to reveal herself but always terrified. Ren really develops as strong and intriguing heroine with hints of grey. Her relationships with Vargo and Serrado drive most of the action in this book and love how they flip from friends to enemies to friends through the course of the story.
My favourite character has to be Vargo, this man is a mix of good and bad that just works. I really disliked him by the end of the first book but the end of the second book that had completely changed.
But the underlying story about the underlying corruption in the city of Nazerda and a possible magical cause to this was fascinating and felt relevant to me.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment- will Ren continue to maintain her Renata persona? How far will she go to protect her new family while keeping her old one safe? What will happen to the Rook? Will Vargo get what he deserves?
Perfect for Fans
Of intricate and complicated stories with complex characters
Here is my review as part of the DCI Kate Daniels readalong of the ninth book, The Longest Goodbye, in this amazing crime thriller series.
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team’s lives, on the line.
Thank you at Compulsive Readers and Orion books for my copy of this book,
Review
Here is my review as part of the DCI Kate Daniels read-along of the ninth book, The Longest Goodbye, in this amazing crime thriller series set in the Northeast of England.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The story starts with a typical boy’s night out in Newcastle but ends in violence with three men shot dead and an armed officer fighting for his life. This case is related to the death of a police officer and Kate’s best friend three years ago. A case that remains unsolved possibly due to the handling of the case by the SIO at the time leaving the family distraught. Kate has to solve the cold while dealing with her own emotions, her team struggling with own of their own in the firing line as well as acting up in a superior role.
This book can be read as standalone with reading the other books in the serious, but I would recommend the other books to understand Kate and her team.
The plot moves quickly and once I started the book, I had to keep reading to find out who the murderers were, and it did come as a complete surprise. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, some of which were a little heartbreaking.
As always, the Northeast of England forms the perfect background – Newcastle for the grittier elements and the rural parts for the rest of the story.
Jo’s and Kate’s relationship remains complicated, but Kate is as always, the dedicated Detective, friend, and boss- a woman I love reading about.
It’s another Tuesday and another Top Ten- this time it’s my top ten bookish ( and writing) goals
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This time the topic my top ten bookish goals but I am going to add some of blog goals as well as they are related and some writing goals. Not surprisingly, many of them are on my 2023 list!
Beat the backlogon my Kindle
I’m going to read some of those free and cheap books sitting on my kindle this year.
Series Book Lover 