Book Review: The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

I have so much to say about this book that I’ve been holding back reviewing it until I had time to fully invest myself in my thoughts. I know it’s only March, but I think this is my favourite read of 2019 and it’ll be pretty tough to beat. 

In the third book of the Winternight Trilogy we follow Vasya immediately on from the conclusion to [book:The Girl in the Tower|34050917]. There’s no time to catch your breath, no month long interval, it’s straight into the heart of the action and issues surrounding Vasya and her family. There are riots and pitchforks, fires, and accusations of witchcraft and sorcery. And leading the rabble is a certain priest with a silvery tongue, guided by an ancient enemy now released from his prison. Arden has such a way with words I fell immediately back into this world, experiencing everything alongside Vasya and Solovey. The confusion, the chaos, the sights and smells of Moscow just jump from the page and I felt their anxiety and fear right there with them. When you’re crying before you’ve even reached 10% in a book, you know it’s touched you deeply. 

When this writing craftmenship is interwoven so perfectly with magical folklore and real, known, history it combines to make a truly exceptional read. I loved the introduction of the mysterious territory known as ‘Midnight’ and the field of horses. Getting to see some of Solovey’s, and later Vasya’s, mysterious past was bittersweet and touching too, and just added to Vasya’s strength of character. The descriptions of seasons past, as we walk this journey, is wonderfully descriptive and fully immersive again. The plot is always driven and forceful, and the pace continues throughout with multiple twist and battles. 

Vasya has also come so far as a character, and it was an absolute pleasure to see her develop further here. She’s constantly trying to learn who, or what, she is, while trying not to give in to the free spirit inside her that tells her to flee into winter. She’s willing to sacrifice everything, including her supposedly immortal soul, for her family, and I loved her for that. Her ability to admit her failings, while still yearning to be what she’s expected to be makes her vulnerable yet deeply endearing. She’s a complex woman with strong convictions and a moral backbone that is decidedly unique and wonderful to read. 

The priest Konstantin is another deliciously complicated character. His mixture of pure hatred and lust for Vasya has not quelled, fuelled by his relationship with a spirit who takes pleasure from suffering and internal torment. He’s a deeply troubled man with a gift for creating beautiful things, and although he hates Vasya he hates himself more. There’s a strange mix of pity and anger that I felt when reading about Konstantin. At some of the truly terrible things he does, I hated him like no other, yet Arden has this ability to make me feel sorry for him. It’s close to how Vasya feels towards him too, and to see both of their internal struggles towards the other is quite electrifying. 

I couldn’t write this review without touching on Vasya and Morozko’s relationship. At once deeply complicated, and now, rather fractured, we see each of them learn from one another, and what they are to each other. It’s touching and beautiful, sweet and passionate all at once, but never overpowers or is as important to the storyline as Vasya herself is. She never needs Morozko to fulfill her destiny, but rather must discover it for herself and rescue him. It’s a reversal of the stereotypical ‘girl in the tower’ (which makes it even more ironic given the title of the previous book in the series). I love Morozko. His icyness, aloofness, quite literally melts when Vasya gets through his defences. 

<spoiler>Solovey. How can I write about what happens to Solovey? Heartbreaking. And it’s never swept under the carpet or used simply as a plot device. The grief is always there, always apparent when Vasya looks at other horses. The guilt and ache she feels when riding the ‘fire bird’ feels so real, and respectful to Solovey’s memory, that I felt deeply touched by it. I haven’t sobbed over a book in a while, but this managed to grab hold of me very tightly and feel that grief personally. </spoiler>

A really wonderful, magic story full of folklore and history, love and friendship. A must read.

Book Review: The Wicked King by Holly Black

When I read The Cruel Prince in 2017 I was blown away by the magical world of Fae and political scheming. But that was nothing compared to The Wicked King. Nothing. 

This kicks up everything that was divulged at the end of the previous novel and twists it. Constantly plotting, scheming and internal fighting have left Jude a shadow of her former self. She’s poisoning herself everyday to build up a resistance, but it feels as though the palace itself is doing more damage than the Faerie fruit. As Madoc said, it’s harder to keep power than to obtain it, and Jude is constantly learning that to play with the big leagues is pretty hard to pull off. Especially when you’re mortal.

The chemistry between Cardan and Jude is perfect, and hits the right note between disgust, hatred and desire. When Jude at one point whispers ‘I hate you’, to see the smoulder in Cardan’s eyes. God. I don’t think I’ve met a pairing so equally matched in wits and glorious, unadulterated, sexual tension. This is what I want from my book romances. It’s no romance at all, but feels like it’s destiny. They’re two sides of the same coin, yet also so desperately different. Jude, mortal, vulnerable and yearning for power over a people who destroyed her family. Cardan, deliciously cruel to please others, yet seeking a love he’s wanted all his life. Their sparring of words is glorious. 

The extension of Bomb and Roach’s past together was nice to see and I loved the little snippets of Jude and Bomb together, acting for all the world like normal teenage friends. I like the Bomb, she has an integrity about her that’s rare in these Fae, and has the potential to be a true ally, and friend. Taryn I still dislike, as well as Locke. They seem well suited in their ability to appear friendly while ultimately still playing the game themselves. In fact, all of the supporting characters all well fleshed out and full of life to help build this constant level of tension and pressure around Jude and Cardan. 

The plot is full of twists and surprises that I didn’t see coming, and continued to be fast paced and interesting right up until that deplorable ending. There are plenty of plots and schemes interweaving together in such a clever way that you don’t see what’s coming until the chosen moment when everything comes to a head. Honestly, I’ve not enjoyed a book like this in such a long time, and I cannot wait to see how it will all end. Is it 2020 yet?!

Book Review: Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures by Stephen Fry

When I was a child my favourite movie was Clash of the Titans - the 1981 film with Maggie Smith as Athena and Laurence Olivier as Zeus. Medusa was, and is, the scariest monster I have ever seen on TV and I regularly had to leave my light on when I went to sleep because I thought she was going to come and slither up the stairs and turn me to stone.

Anyway, from a young age I’ve had a healthy obsession with Greek Mythology and I’ve read many, many books on the subject. My favourite story still to this day has always been Perseus and his hunt for Medusa, so I was overjoyed to see that Fry was continuing his jaunt into the Greek myths after Mythos with an account of the golden age of the Heroes. They’re all here - the labours of Heracles, Theseus and the Minotaur and Oedipus among others (including my beloved Perseus), and they’re retold in the easy accessible way Fry has with words. I’ve read these stories so many times, but Fry genuinely manages to make them less convoluted and confusing (which is so easy to do with these tales when there is no single original source and the family trees are a little large and rather incestuous), while still managing to entertain and make me laugh.

None of the richness to the stories is lost, and you can tell that Fry has a genuine passion and knowledge of the subject (the footnotes alone denote a higher level of understanding than most), while giving sources to further reading if one wishes. The conversational tone really lends itself well to these stories, and you can almost image Fry standing in front of you (or sat round a hearth) reciting them. Its been wonderful to dip back into this vast history and I sincerely hope that Fry continues to cover the rise and fall of Troy in another edition to the series (it’s hinted at) to complete this ‘set’ of Greek myths and tales.

Book Review: Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

A great follow up to The Hanging Tree, Lies Sleeping continues to follow Peter Grant and his search to hunt down and thwart the plans of The Faceless Man and his apprentice while getting himself mixed up in the demi-monde world, which this time involves bells, along the way. 

As I said when reviewing The Hanging Tree, I’ve found these novels to get better and better as they progress as the world is now so well established, and the characters are all charismatic and varied. In particular, this wouldn’t work if Peter himself wasn’t so damn likeable. He’s flawed - always trying to be the ‘do gooder’, likes the sound of his own voice, far too inquisitive to the point of verging on annoying...yet he’s down to earth, the every man of the Folly to counterbalance the extremes that are Nightingale and his associates. It helps that I’m also extremely fond of Beverley too. Goddess, girlfriend, and maybe more? I love all the Rivers, although we seem to see Tyburn and Bev the most, and the introduction of Walbrook here added another layer to their mythology. 

The world building and mythology is convoluted, and the writing style at times can get overly bogged down in descriptions and facts about London/buildings/literally anything. But I’ve come to expect this now of Aaronovitch, and there’s a certain charm in it that I find quite endearing. Yes, it can get complicated trying to decipher who or what various members of the demi-monde are, and what magic is, but we’re seven books in now and I feel like I have a good outline of this world and the creatures who inhabit it. We’re learning along with Peter, and it’s a fun ride. 

This expanded on the plot from The Hanging Tree well, delving deeper into the ultimate plan of The Faceless Man. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of his world and his weird cat creatures and pale ladies and how/why they’re working for him - but this small mystery that remains only adds to his air of menace.

I really hope there isn’t a long wait before the next installment, because the fast pace of this coupled with an exciting ending has just left me wanting more.

Book Review: Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

Catwoman explores the origins of Selina Kyle: assassin, master jewel thief, sister. We see her rise from the poverty stricken streets of Gotham as she fights for her sister’s wellbeing, before being reborn as a Wraith - the ultimate weapon to bring down the city that dismissed her in her time of need.

I liked the story, and I enjoyed the fresh approach to Selina’s story. She’s portrayed as an ultimately vulnerable young woman who’s just trying to find her place in the world and I could often see these undercurrents of sadness as she fights her way across Gotham. I like that she’s multifaceted, which is how Catwoman should be. She’s not a hero, and doesn’t pretend to be one, but she’s also not a villain. Everything she does is for a greater purpose, even if her means of getting there may be portrayed as slightly dubious.

However, it’s her relationship with Ivy and Harley that was a real highlight for me. The three of them are presented as flawed, damaged beyond compare, yet they still manage to form this incredibly strong bond that’s also highly complicated - due in no small part to Harley’s inexplicable bond to the Joker. The three are sometimes a mirror image of each other too, and I think that’s why their relationship is so powerful. Each has a deeply troubled past, lacking in love and respect, and they find this in each other. I would have loved to see more interaction between them and have this relationship explored on a deeper level.

Selina’s relationship with Batwing I found more lacklustre. There’s no real development in their relationship in my opinion, and it just comes across as a little forced. Batwing himself is a decent character with enough backstory to carry a story of his own, but here he really just feels like a stand in to the stars of the show and it comes across as very one dimensional. I do think it’s harder to make the heroes more interesting. There’s less scope to give them complicated moral dilemmas to overcome, and unfortunately Batwing does suffer because of this.

I also found the plot a little lacking. The reveals are a little obvious, told without that art of subtlety I’ve come to expect in Maas. It feels very clunky at times, and the pacing is a bit all over the place - going from fight scene to pages of monologue with no in between.

I think I’m not a big enough fan of the genre to continue the rest of this series, but I’m glad I took the time to read this one. Catwoman is by far one of the most entertaining characters in the DC universe.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

It's my birthday today, so I'm reviewing one of my favourite books of last year.

Laini Taylor writes the most beautiful prose, and can spin the most magical stories. Her characters are complex, complicated and flawed. Muse of Nightmares is no exception. This follows directly on from Strange the Dreamer, with no time in between. We’re taken straight into the story, and almost hit the ground running as we see Lazlo and Minya face off for the first time. It’s Minya who’s the star here, especially during the first half of the book. She’s bitter and spiteful, using Lazlo’s love for Sarai for her own agenda. The subtleties she has over her power, the ability to hold and wield the souls of the dead, and the way these are exposed to her ‘family’ are wonderful to read. She’s an individual starved of love who’s witnessed an event no one, but especially a child, should ever witness and it’s changed her irrevocably. She’s an utterly unique and wonderful character to read. Her unpredictability combined with this immense sense of responsibility just makes for such an interesting girl. She’s vicious and unrelenting, yet fiercely loyal.

Muse of Nightmares also sees the expansion of the backstory we are first introduced to in Strange the Dreamer. We see Skathis and the other Gods before the beginning of their reign of terror over Weep, and we finally discover the horrifying reason for the Godspawn. The two stories interweave with a degree of subtlety that develops into a wonderful conclusion, and the introduction of new character’s Nova and Kora fit well into the already developed tale. I was particularly taken with the strong bond between Nova and Kora, and their persistent and ever present belief in each other. They’re another example of the irreparable damage Skathis has caused for his own greedy gain, but also of how strong the bond of love can be and the perseverance of both.

Towards the end of the novel we’re given a little hint of the wider universes and how they link to Laini’s previous novels, which was cleverly done (and made me do a little inward squeal). I really hope that the world’s we’ve been exposed to can be further developed as the conclusion to this story was left open ended enough to do that. I’d love to see Karou interact with these characters who have also been perceived as vile and unnatural, much like the persecuted chimaera of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

I really don’t think my review could ever do this novel enough justice. I just love Laini Taylor’s ability to take characters you wouldn’t expect to find as the ‘heroes’ and flip the idea on its head. The Gods are the antagonists, yet their reviled children are the innocents. It’s just such a unique concept, and I love it and will probably continue to love everything she writes.

 - 5 stars

Book Review: The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderfully creepy little book, perfect for this time of year. The Twisted Tree tells the story of Martha, a girl who can feel people’s memories when she touches their clothing, as she returns to Norway after growing concerned for her grandmother’s safety. What follows is a story steeped in Norse mythology, tentative friendships and one incredibly scary monster lurking in the woods.

Martha is a great character. Her ability to see people’s secrets just by touching others clothes is such a unique concept, and one that has come with a price. She’s blind in one eye, scarred for life following an incident at the twisted tree in her grandmother’s back garden. And this incident has perhaps scarred Martha more than she initially lets on. She’s guarded, closed off from her parents and the one friend she has back in London, and unwilling to interact with people. She also sees herself as hideous, a monster, who no one could ever love - let alone like. It’s this vulnerability that really drew me to Martha, and made me really feel for her.

Stig is also an interesting character. From his sudden appearance and very shady, secretive background, to his hidden feelings of jealousy and self hatred - he mirrors a lot of Martha’s personality while also being a different kind of closed off. When the two characters are together, they perfectly mirror each other’s growing confusion and anxiousness to create a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. They bounce off each other on such a level that their tentative friendship feels comfortable and develops perfectly over time. Their feelings for each other are subtle, and enhance the story rather than overpowering it. They both need each other for different reasons.

It’s the atmospheric feel of the book that really gives this an edge, that builds into a frenzied crescendo right until the end. Most of the book is played out within Martha’s grandma’s cabin, and the feelings of claustrophobia and anxiety roll off the pages as we find both Stig and Martha struggling to cope with what lies in wait for them outside, and in. The vast emptiness of outside crowding in, almost as if the environment and the twisted tree are a living being, coupled with the fleeting hints of terror from ghosts, whispers on the winds, and one very tense excursion into the woods all made me feel incredibly creeped out. I loved it.

The only reason for not giving this 5 stars? I felt there was a lot of unfinished business with Stig. At the end of the novel I had more questions than answers with regards to his past and personality and I felt more could have been done to tie up these loose ends.

This is an impressive debut, that’s perfectly suited to those that enjoy the creepy and atmospheric mingled with a unique magical concept steeped in mythology. I couldn’t put it down, and I eagerly await what the author has next to offer. Highly recommend.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: The Towering Sky by Katharine McGee

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Towering Sky is the third and final instalment of futuristic teen series ‘The Thousandth Floor’. Following in the same vein as the previous books, we see our privileged and beautiful narrators as they navigate the fall out of various secrets finally coming to light, mixed in with a little teen angst and drama.

This instalment is really all about Avery and her relationship with adopted brother Atlas, as well as being the ‘darling’ of the New York scene and the travails this incurs. I like Avery. She’s described as a genetically designed perfect individual, but she never sees herself as this. In fact, she’s deeply insecure, constantly comparing herself to her friends while remaining deeply loyal to the end. She comes across as a genuinely good character, who exudes a warmth while remaining charismatic and interesting. This can be hard to do in novels like this, where most characters appear vapid with little substance to them. Avery is more complex than this, and I would say she’s well developed.

Leda is another well developed character, troubled by her unpredictable nature and struggling with her past actions. It was nice to see her interactions with Avery and Watt, although I did find the conclusion to her storyline a little too ‘neat’. I would have liked to have seen her interact with the other narrators a bit more too. Especially Rylin, who she shares a lot in common with.

The weakest character was Calliope. I found her storyline unnecessary, and she comes across as more of an enigma. We don’t know much about her history, and I found myself not really caring. Her story also isn’t linked in anyway to the main plot, and aside from a brief interaction with Avery she doesn’t communicate with any of the other characters - making her a little redundant. I could have done without her to be honest, and felt that as a whole her character had an air of ‘missed opportunity’ about it. She could have been very handy to have around as Avery’s world decends into chaos. I also found Rylin a bit of an accessory, and her storyline was rather bland and predictable.

I found this very similar in tone to the other novels in the series. It’s a total guilty pleasure that is very easy to read, and flows reasonably well. It’s nevr going to win literary awards for the writing style. It’s simplistic, and very ‘young’ in tone - but this suits the overall feel of the novel. I will say that I was disappointed in certain plot points that petered out and didn’t conclude to my satisfaction - such as the murder mystery element that started well, and then was sort of forgotten about only to be hurriedly concluded. I also found certain reveals of secrets that have been built up over the course of the three novels to fall rather flat, which was disappointing. I wanted to see more the fallout, rather than the rushed ending that I got. I wanted more of the trauma, and less of the fairy tale.

That said, this was entertaining and a rather enjoyable light read after some heavy nonfiction. Would recommend.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful story. The Storm Keeper’s Island follows Fionn, sent to the island of Arranmore with his sister Tara when his mother becomes too ill to care for him, into the care of his grandfather. Fionn’s grandfather is the Storm Keeper of Arranmore. The maker of storms and wielder of elemental magic that protects against the darkness of ancient sorcery. With Fionn’s arrival, this darkness starts to awaken, leading Fionn to face his fears and protect the people he loves the most.

The characters are so full of life and vigour, and really help to propel the story forward by making you care about them. Fionn and Tara have a typical sibling relationship full of bickering and fighting that’s only heightened by Tara’s teenage love for Fionn’s island enemy Bartley. It’s obvious they love each other however, and the sibling bond comes into full effect as the story progresses. I would have liked to have seen more of Tara. She’s quite the enigmatic teenager who spends most of her time either in her room or roaming the island with Bartley, and I felt she had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully explored as she comes across as quite a resilient and tough character.

It was the relationship between Fionn and his grandfather that really stood out for me. It’s a relationship full of joy and a love for each other that’s also tinged with sadness and sentimentality as it develops. It’s a passing of knowledge and stories about the island and their family from a master to the apprentice, told with a sprinkling of magic and mystery. Add to this Fionn’s desperate longing to hear stories about his father, a man who died a hero before he was born, and you get a real sense of love between these characters. Fionn’s desire to see his father Cormac is built upon to create a wonderful bittersweet moment that is both subtle and elegantly done to such an extent that it took me by surprise, yet was also so obviously meant to happen. The writing really is outstanding.

The secondary characters we meet throughout the story help support and encourage a feeling of community spirit amongst the islanders. You get the feeling that everyone of the island has a strong familial connection to the area, and will do anything to protect it and their ancient traditions. Any outsider would have a hard time integrating into the island life without a host of eyes casting suspicious glances.

The island itself could also be said to be a character in its own right. Descriptions are vivid, and really big to mind a feral and wild environment that’s filled with hidden beauty. It has a personality all of its own that welcomes and calls to Fionn and his desire to be free from his familial responsibilities. The descriptions of the weather also add to this overall atmospheric feel, and allow the reader to become deeply involved in the island. I was desperate to smell the sea air, and feel the gusty wind on my back as I stood at the port with Fionn. It’s also so distinctly and passionately Irish, and I love that.

The plot is full of mystery and magic. It’s well paced and the world building is well explored and explained properly. It’s simple, to the point, yet also compelling and believable while retaining a uniqueness about it. The writing carries you through the story as if told by an old friend or relative, with a hint of folktale about it. You could almost imagine it being told over a fire like tales of the past. My only niggle was the ending. There’s a certain degree of unfinished business that sets the story up for a follow up, however I can forgive this given the wonderful story.

I’m excited for the next novel, and would honestly encourage anyone who loves a story steeped in magic and familial love to read this.

 - 5 stars

Book Review: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ash Princess tells the story of Thora, a girl destined to be queen in a country enslaved by an evil tyrant. It follows her fight for freedom and the difficulties she encounters when forced to make a choice between her people and her friend.

To me this is your YA bread and butter, and it follows every predictable trope known to the genre. You have the typical evil villain, determined to keep our heroine downtrodden. You have the suppressed heroine, destined for greatness, who doesn’t know her own strength. And you have the obvious love interest and a weird love triangle of sorts between childhood friends. It’s written well and it’s entertaining, but unfortunately it was all too predictable for me and it’s all been done before. There was nothing unique or different about the story - especially if you’ve read a lot of YA fantasy.

As stated, I found the villain very obvious with no subtlety to him at all. He’s one tone with no hidden depth. He’s just a tyrant. The other secondary characters are a little more complex. In particular I liked the Kaiserin with her hidden intelligence and all seeing eyes, and Artemisia, who gets some of the best lines with her straight talking personality. At times I thought these characters were woefully under used though, as the story instead chose to concentrate on our protagonist Theo/Thora, her ‘friend’ Cress, Prinz Soren and childhood friend Blaine.

I found Cress to be extremely vapid and ornamental, especially early on in the story. She’s interested only in clothes and gossiping - all the while treating Thora like some kind of pet. Their relationship irritated me, as Thora is so obviously conditioned to see her as a friend when in reality she’s being incredibly naive and repeatedly manipulated to be compliant. This results in Theo making excuses for Cress’s behaviour, even when it’s painfully obvious that what she’s doing is wrong.

With regards to Soren, Blaise and Theo the only aspect of their relationship I enjoyed was the subtle courting and flirting in the beginning between Soren and Theo. Theo’s manipulation of Soren demonstrates her inner strength to get what she wants when she puts her mind to it, and it had the potential to go a long way. However, half way through the book Soren disappears on a mysterious trip and we don’t see him again until near the of the novel, wasting so much possible tension and character development. By the time he appears again I’d lost interest. The interactions between Blaine and Theo I found, for the most part, awkward and a little forced. I would have preferred more Soren and Theo, due to the complex nature of their relationship.

A lot of the novel is quite slow in pace, with endless internal dialogue devoted to inner turmoil and angst from Thora. There’s little action, just endless talking about what the right thing to do is without actually doing it. I also found some of the plot points confusing. Theo repeatedly states that the Kaiser needs her alive and that she’s valuable, yet at one point he’s willing to marry her off to a duke known for abusing and killing his wives as if she’s worthless. It’s never really explained why she would be of any use to the Kaiser alive, especially as he’s so keen to kill everyone else who threatens his rule.

Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be picking up the sequel to this, unless reviews suggest a drastic change in pace and character development. It suffers too much from a deja vu feeling of every YA novel before it. This is a shame because it had a lot of potential to develop some unique characters in the genre, but fell a little short in execution for me.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. However, my ARC copy would not download onto my kindle, therefore I bought the finished version on release day (mainly because of my love of Naomi Novik’s previous novel Uprooted). This review will be based around that finished copy.

A perfect read for a chilly Christmas Eve.


There’s something about Naomi Novik’s fairy tales that I find irresistible and evocative. She manages to weave these fantastical tales that are steeped in tradition around grounded and very real women full of life and character, while delicately introducing complicated relationships that capture the very heart of the story so well.

Miryam is the first character we’re introduced to. Described as resourceful, shrewd and emotionless in her pursuit of debts, she’s a glorious example of a character who must look inside herself to discover her talents and save herself and those she loves from destitution. She can sometimes come across as standoffish and cold - but I found this the perfect counterpoint to her Staryk king who is so similar to her in personality, yet she can’t see it. Their relationship, at once complicated and hard, is one of my favourite aspects of the book. It was great to see it develop as the story progressed from sullenness to something that could be described as amiable.

Irina is Miryem’s counterpoint, the winter to her sun. The daughter of a duke, married to the tsar, she soon realises that there’s more to her husband than meets the eye. She must quickly learn how to be a tsarina and defend her people against a threat much bigger than herself. A threat steeped in fire and hunger. I found her very similar to Miryem in terms of rising to her position as ‘queen’, to discover that she has a natural talent to rule. One that outshines her husband’s. I also enjoyed her relationship with the Tsar, as she struggles with the beast and the man separately. I would have liked to have seen this relationship explored more, as I found it rather complex and politically fraught but I understand the importance of allowing Miryem’s relationships to take centre stage towards the end.

Wanda I found interesting, as she’s everything Miryem could have been if her father was crueler and she wasn’t so shrewd. However, her story peters out halfway through the novel and doesn’t really develop the way it could have. I found she’s rather sacrificed in favour of Irina, and her character becomes less important and more unsubstantial towards the end of the novel.

The settings and world building also really stand out in the novel, especially the descriptions of the Staryk lands and the harsh winters of the human world. I found myself a little lost amongst the forest trees with the characters on many occasions, willing the harsh Staryk white road into being so I could follow it. I do find it odd that the novel is released in the summer, as this is such a pure winter tale that speaks of harsh frosts and bitter winds. It’s perfect for winter evenings.

I will admit that at times I found the Staryk culture a little complicated, with the various concepts of debts and promises and how they must be repaid etc. rather convoluted in their explanations. However, as I was experiencing this along with Miryem it didn’t distract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I was disappointed that there wasn’t an easier way to distinguish between the many characters who tell the story. The ARC copy apparently had symbols to differentiate between the characters, but the finished book did not. This would have been incredibly helpful, as sometimes I struggled to understand who was telling the story - especially as the tale progressed and more characters were added to the roster, and did dampen my enjoyment somewhat.

Although this doesn’t quite match Uprooted for me in terms of overall enjoyment, I loved reading this. Naomi Novik is firmly on my ‘must read’ shelf for all future novels and I encourage everyone who loves fairy tales and complex relationships to give this a go.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful conclusion to a duology that’s built upon its predecessor to create a magical world with colourful characters set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan. The story follows almost immediately after the conclusion of [book:Flame in the Mist|23308087], with little time to catch your breath before the action begins. We find Mariko being transported to the Emperors palace to meet her future husband, the emperor’s eldest illegitimate son Raiden. Okami is captured, bound in chains beneath the same palace, and Kenshen is still dealing with the aftermath of his misdemeanours, with blood on his hands and his loyalty to his new emperor called into question.

This felt immediately like a more mature and well developed novel compared to the previous instalment. The characters are well established, allowing the author to build up an emotional connection with the reader. Mariko is now not only a fierce and confident ‘spy’, but also a source of inspiration to those around her - especially Yumi, who can see a similar conflict she shares with her own brother in Mariko. There’s also a certain amount of jealously over her ability to be readily accepted for who she really is by the Black Clan, which gives Yumi the strength to follow her own path based on Mariko’s courage. It was good to see both characters flourish after a promising introduction in The Flame In The Mist. As usual, Marko’s interactions with Okami are suitably tense and filled with the right level of passion to propel their love story throughout the novel.

I was surprised to find that my favourite character in the novel was actually Raiden. A deeply complex character, the older brother forced to serve a younger brother, brought up to hate him yet still resolutely loyal and protective of him. There are feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and a growing respect for his would-be bride Mariko that spills over into protection - not only for her, but the whole court. Kanako, his mother, is similar in her initial complexity. Again, she’s fiercely loyal to her son but I found that she was a little more reserved in her personality with little backstory to support her overall scheme and justify her actions. I wanted to know more about why Kanako made the various choices she makes throughout the novel, and also how.

The world building is subtle, with talk of demons and a complex magical system that binds humans to various creatures via a sacrifice. However, I felt it needed developing a bit more, and was lacking in detail. This was perhaps my main issue with Kanako, who’s story and plan is so closely linked to these demons that with a ore in-depth explanation of her journey and process to becoming ‘one’ with her various demons, I might have understood her more.

Other themes through the novel included the pattern of accepting responsibility for your actions and the idea that respect should be earned not given freely. Roku, as Emperor, has no one to keep him in check, allowing him to grow sadistic and mad with rage. Theres no empathy or compassion for his elders and respected council, leading to anarchy and destruction in his city. There’s no honour or goodness, unlike Okami, who has the respect and loyalty of his Black Clan family and the ability to lead where anyone will follow. They’re the light and darkness to the story and perfect opposites and the eventual showdown between the two demonstrates this well.

I enjoyed this thoroughly, and thought it was a refreshing YA fantasy novel that covered some important themes in an entertaining way.  A great addition to the genre.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: Fame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

After a slow start, this built into a wonderfully fun tale of trust, lies, magic and warriors. Some have described this as a ‘Mulan’ retelling, but beyond taking the identity of a young man and joining a band of warriors, I felt this was so much more than that.

I was particularly taken with the themes and settings within the story, as they felt so authentic and were described well. The forest where Mariko begins her journey with the Black Clan in particular is suitably menacing, with descriptions of otherworldly creatures and man eating trees. There’s an underlying presence of things that are always watching, hiidng just out of sight, waiting to guide or hinder an unfortunate victim. The tea house and emperor’s palace, where we’re introduced to Yumi and various secondary characters, are suitably a polar opposite to this as we are exposed to opulence and excess - another level of foreshadowing that exposes the corrupt nature of the empire.

Mariko is a strong protagonist, although I admit to feeling annoyed with her in the beginning. She believes herself to be worldly wise, cleverer than most people she meets and her only hindrance is her sex. She initially looks down on the Black Clan as murderers and thieves, believing herself to be far superior. However, I liked her development over time. As she becomes more worldly wise, she opens herself up to more points of view and the rose tinted glasses she’s worn her whole life begin to fall. Her conflicting feelings for her brother also help to build on overall feeling of inner turmoil and a conflict of loyalties that helps propel the story forward.

The various relationships between Mariko and the members of the Black clan certainly help to shape Mariko’s changing point of view. From hostility to friendship and more, it’s built on gradually and in a realistic way. I particularly liked the dynamics between Okami, Mariko and Ranmaru. We have the headstrong leader, the carefree warrior and a girl who equally hates and admires these two men. The mixture of confusing emotions makes for a great amount of internal struggle and tension with arguing and cerebral mind games that’s delicious to see unfold, and builds to a great scene in a hot pool.

Some storylines were left a little undeveloped towards the end, such as Yumi’s story and the real truth behind the attack on the convoy that brought Mariko to the forest. The chapters involving the emperor and his wife/courtesan also only show hints of some foreshadowing of darker magic and a larger overall plan that I presume will be expanded on in future novels. There’s also a cliffhanger ending, which I tend to dislike in novels as I find them untidy.

However, overall I really enjoyed this. I’m so glad I picked it back up again after initially thinking it was too slow. The gradual build up and development of these characters set in a wonderful and more diverse world really made for a strong YA fantasy with the right amount of magical realism to keep me wanting more. I look forward to the sequel.

Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

I loved this. Magic, mythology, love, grief, madness and the pride of Gods. All wrapped up in adventure in the wonderful setting of a Greek island. It’s the perfect story for the summer months. Madeline Miller weaves a story steeped in lush island life, described so vividly, and inhabits it with characters so wonderfully colourful that I could truly imagine myself walking alongside Circe.

Circe is a Goddess ahead of her times. She’s shunned from childhood as the lesser God, the most unruly and weak compared to her brothers and sister. She has none of the grace or slyness of Pasiphae, or skills of Perse. She’s meek and unsure of herself, desperate only for any affection she can find. And she finds it in the unlikely source of mortals. Youthful jealousy sees Circe banished from her fathers hall, but this only works to allow Circe to flourish and reach a potential she never knew she had. We see her flirt with Gods and men, always there in the shadows of great adventures and stories, offering guidance and support. All the heroes of the Golden age of men end up on her shores, and she’s there to listen and help - surrounded by her animals and magic.

The island of Aiaiai serves as a base throughout all this, both to Circe’s fragile nature and her need for reassurance and solitude, and later her need to nurture and heal her wounded heroes. This allows the story to spread out like tendrils from the island, taking us to Crete and other islands, before returning to the safe haven of home. It’s grounding influence soon begins to mirror Circe herself, and is a reflection of her personality and nature. Changing with the seasons but always there, bound and unwavering.

The depictions of the Gods we see are also well done. Hermes, trickster and messenger, is always there to manipulate and tease Circe. I could image him with a rakish smile, standing by her door night after night. Athena, logical and cruel, unable to comprehend being told ‘no’. And Apollo, beautiful and lyrical, master to prophecies yet unemotional. Their presence is felt throughout, but rarely seen, making their appearances as they should be - short yet with devastating consequences.

This has been my favourite read of the year so far, no question. I fell completely in love with the story telling, the settings and the characters. Wonderful.

 - 5 stars

Book Review: Wood Angel by Erin Bow

At some point I put this book down and didn’t pick it back up for weeks - and I think the main reason behind it was that the tone of the novel changed significantly half way through. How this is called ‘Wood Angel’ in the UK I will never know, because there’s nothing angelic about it. It’s full of grief and suffering, and talk of death and the dead and the horrible mentality and ignorance of people. In some respects it reminded me of the game <i>The Witcher</i> in that it uses the same tone to expose the prejudices of the population by openly showing you how mean they can be in the face of the unknown. It’s a dark story.

Kate is a wood carver, trained by her father, until he dies and she’s forced from her home. Lonely and afraid, she strikes up a trade with a witch that gives her with the most wonderful gift - a companion, but in return she must give up her shadow for a fate worse than death. In her journey to reclaim it, she joins a band of roamers and learns about their history, and the ultimate price she must pay in order to complete her journey.

The best character throughout this is Taggle, the talking cat. Any story that has a talking cat is a winner for me and Taggle is as narcissistic and preening as any talking cat should be. He’s also the anchor that holds Kate to her mission. In her darkest moments, he’s there to remind her of what she had to loose and what she could do is she took the easy way out. He’s also brave, tackling many a man in order to save Kate, and kind.

Kate is a little more temperamental in character. She’s often comes across as quite abrasive and unlikeable as she shies away from people in fear of rejection (or worse). She is, however, rather stoic too. She’s very set in her ways, and has a resilience for life and a yearning to live and do the right thing that jumps off the page. I enjoyed her relationship with Taggle, but also with Drina, as you could see it’s a relationship she craves in order to feel as though she belongs.

The final third of the book is perhaps the darkest, as were introduced to the rasalka and Linay’s ultimate plan. It takes a rather sudden turn into the deepest and darkest places of witchcraft and what it means to grieve for those we feel have been wronged. It’s a rather intense look at how different people deal with death and what’s right and wrong. It certainly wasn’t how I expected the tone of the story to go, but on reading the afterthoughts from the author and understanding that this book took 6 years to write, and included her sister’s death in the meantime, I can see perhaps her thought process behind it.

An interesting story, but one I wasn’t necessarily expecting.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

I think I need to approach this for what it is, and not what I wanted it to be. It’s a novella. It’s a bridge between books, offering a simple look into the lives of the inner circle, and a return to normalcy, after [book:A Court of Wings and Ruin|23766634]. I know all this...but... aside from the last third, I just found this rather lacklustre.

Nothing happens. There’s no development. There’s no substance. I get that it’s a shameless money spinner (and it shows) but it’s essentially just cringy sex scenes (I don’t think I’m ever going to like the type of sex scenes Sarah J. Maas writes), some shopping and getting to reminisce with some old friends. And it’s set around a celebration that’s distinctly wintery and I’m reading it on the hottest day of the year. I guess I wanted it to centre around the wider inner circle instead of mainly Rhys and Feyre. Their story is pretty much done for me. It’s neat and tied up. I want to see more of the complex relationships we’re given glimpses of here.

I think that’s why I enjoyed the last third so much more than the rest. And the ‘sneak peak’, I loved. It’s an expansion on these complicated secondary characters, and has the potential to really explore emotions and the consequences of war that I haven’t read since [book:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395]. It got me excited for what’s to come, especially for Tamlin and Nesta - a character I have grown to absolutely love over the course of these books.

I just wish it could have delivered more of what I wanted, instead of pussyfooting around the elephants in the room.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: Out Of The Blue by Sophie Cameron

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The angel's started falling from the skies 10 days after Jaya's mother died. Determined to catch one alive, Jaya's father uproots their shattered family to Edinburgh - but Jaya's still struggling with her grief. With her family reaching crisis point, the unthinkable happens - a Being lands at Jaya's feet, and the extraordinary begins to take shape.

This is more than a story about angels, it's a story about grief, coping with loss and learning to move on. The author deals with these issues in a sensitive and compelling way, as the story weaves through Jaya's struggle with understanding her loss by building up this incredibly touching relationship between her and the Being she finds (named Teacake). It's almost as though she's learning to heal by putting all her energy and love into caring for Teacake. It actually reminded me a little of E.T. - we have Jaya hiding an other wordly being and learning to overcome a language barrier and gain their trust. However, that said this relationship is not the central aspect of the plot at all - which I found a little misleading given the blurb. It's almost as though the fantasy aspect is a sideline to a more contemporary book, involving Jaya and her friends and family, which I wasn't a massive fan of.

The descriptions of the angels (or Beings) and Edinburgh are also really beautiful. I love books set with Great Britain, and Edinburgh is such a fun, vibrant city (especially during Fringe) that it was great to see this brought to life on the page. I also loved that the Beings are a little different from the normal angel stereotype - full of colour with gold blood, and the secondary set of characters are full of diversity - although lacking any real complexity or emotional depth compared to Jaya. I think this is because the book itself is a little on the short side, and although this means the pace was good, the character's suffered as a result.

I also wasn't keen on the ending. I found it a little rushed, and also a little far fetched. However, that said the book overall was good and managed to convey some very complex emotions well. A decent read, but I think the fantasy aspect should be downplayed slightly to reach a better audience.

 - 3 stars

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust by Phillip Pulman

A prequel to the His Dark Materials trilogy, with Lyra as an 8 month old baby? I've waited nearly 20 years for this book, and the anticipation during the countdown to release nearly killed me. I also knew going into this that I shouldn't compare it to the trilogy, and for that reason alone I put off reading it. I shouldn't of though, because as with everything Phillip Pullman writes I fell in love with these characters and this world.

The tone of the novel is much darker, I feel, than His Dark Materials. Malcolm is the same age as Lyra in the trilogy, but the themes addressed are that little bit more intense. Lyra for the most part was protected and treasured from abject harm, whereas Malcolm and Alice are faced with a number of socially immoral confrontations. I think where Phillip Pullman excels is in his young adult/child main characters. He never shies away from making them curious, complex and forcing them into these awful situations. Malcolm is no exception. He's deeply interesting, intelligent yet naive and likeable. There's something essentially very pure about him and his love for this baby. Alice is more complex. At first she comes across as very off putting, snide and mean. But we see as time develops that this is doen to a deep seated amount of self loathing and doubt she holds about herself. It takes Malcolm to bring out her good side.

I couldn't mention characters withiut bringing up the man with the hyena deamon. Everything about him screamed revulsion, loathing and horror. Her contempt for life, constantly knawing on her stump, cackling and voiding her bladder and his (essentially) self harm from hitting her made me feel reviled. It's been a while since I've had such strong contempt for a character, and I'm honestly still not entirely sure I have the full feel of who he is as a character. He was very interesting. I also loved the little introductions and expansion on familiar characters Farder Coram, Lord Asriel and Dr. Relf. My little heart did a leap when we see Farder Coram and his beautiful cat deamon again, younger and more whole than when Lyra meets him in the future, and it's alluded we'll meet him again in The Secret Commonwealth. Mrs Coulter is also mentioned a number of times, and we see her once in the presence of Malcolm and Dr. Relf which was wonderful to read. I would have loved to have seen more of her, and see more of the relationship she seems to share with the man with the hyena deamon, as I felt this wasn't fully explored or explained.

The plot itself feels like two distinct novels. The first part follows in a very similar vein to Northern Lights and Lyra's Oxford, as we discover more of Oxford and its inhabitants as Malcolm becomes embroiled in a murder mystery with spies and secret acorns. It's quite slow in its unravelling and presentation of the action, and I admit I did struggle at first to get to know these characters. The second part, called 'The Flood' is more dynamic and I enjoyed it immensely. I loved seeing Malcolm and Alice's relationship develop, and the numerous strange situations they find themselves in as they try and keep Lyra safe. It does delve into the realms of magical realism near the end, and went a little 'out there' which I wasn't necessarily expecting, but I still really enjoyed it.

I did think the ending was a little abrupt, and left a few doors open as to Malcolm and Alice's fate in the future, but it also left me desperate for the next book. This was worth the wait.

La Belle Sauvage is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 4 stars

Book Review: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alice is used to life on the road, never settling in one place and trying to outrun the bad luck that seems to follow her and her mother around. But when Alice's grandmother dies at her home in the Hazel Woods, forcing the pair to return to the estate, Aluce soon finds that her bad luck is about to get a whole lot worse.

This is incredibly slow paced, and I also found the story itself incredibly misleading. I thought this was going to be a YA fantasy but most of the first half of the book is actually more of a contemporary setting with hardly any fantasy elements. It's also rather dull, and I couldn't even tell you what actually happens up till Alice enters the Hazel Wood other than endless travelling. By the time the fantasy aspects come into play, about half way through, I found I just didn't care anymore.

The writing itself also seems to play on pretty over substance. Most of it doesn't make sense and it's overly descriptive in a way that benefits no one other than to further confuse the reader. I repeatedly wished that the writing would just say it how it was, instread of taking me on elaborate and flowery prose of endless rambling.

The characters are hard to connect with, especially Alice who seems particularly unlikeable. She's selfish and stand offish, and I couldn't warm to her at all. She's also really mean to Finch, her supposed friend and companion - constantly disregarding his opinions and feelings for her own gain while being incredibly critical of every character she meets.  It left a bad taste, and I genuinely hoped at one point she'd get lost in the Hazel Wood and we could continue with just Finch. At least then he'd have gotten a chance to speak instead of being Alice's punchbag, and might have developed a proper personality. The other characters, the residents of the Hintermost, are irritating and unlikeable. All appear 'mysterious' or deliberately obstructive just because they can be. Not helpful.

The only aspects I liked, unfortunately, were the few and far between fairy tales told by Althea, Alice's grandmother. They were interesting enough to keep me going, but barely. Disappointing, and I felt that if this had been marketed better (i.e. Without the heavy fantasy push but rather an adult urban fantasy/contemporary) it would have found its preferred audience.

The Hazel Wood is available to purchase now from: Amazon

2 STARS

Book Review: Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Marlin is a Valkyrie, born and raised to slay the immortals and return them to the underworld before they can wreck havoc in the world. But when Malin’s mother fails to carry out a mission, and lets one of the immortal escape, she sets in motion a series of far reaching, life changing events that could change Malin’s life forever. 

I was drawn to this initially because of the mythology and background. It’s an interesting take on the Norse myths, told in a modern futuristic way, which I found unique. It’s also a quick read, with a consistent pacing filed with plenty of action and fighting that made it really easy to read. I do think it helped that I’d read up on some Norse myths before I started this however, as I found a lot of the background information isn’t really explained well and at times it could have got a little confusing. Sometimes the plot itself was also a little all over the place, bouncing from one area or character to the next, without any clear idea of where it was going to end up. It really could have done with some more coherency, and tightening up of the text. 

I also didn’t really feel any connection with the characters. They were overly simplistic, with little depth to them. I think the characters really suffered because of the short length of the story, and they had little chance to develop beyond the one dimensional. I also didn’t really see much of a relationship between Malin and her friends and lovers (although I loved the fact that she was bisexual), and I disliked the love triangle element. I found it slightly cliched, and harked back to more stereotypical and unoriginal YA fiction. 

The premise for this is wonderfully unique, but ultimately I felt that it failed to deliver on some key points, which was a shame.

Between the Blade and the Heart is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 3 stars