Review - The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

 

 

 Title: The Housekeepers

Author: Alex Hay

Pages: 365

Publisher: Headline

Release Date: 4th July 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

On the night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women launches a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society.

Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she’s made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows. When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black-market queen out to settle her scores; an actress desperate for a magnificent part; a seamstress dreaming of a better life; and Mrs. King’s predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance.

 

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My Review: 

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Headline and NetGalley*

Mrs King is the housekeeper of an imposing house in Mayfair.

When Mrs King is dismissed, she puts together a plan to get her revenge through a bold plan with the help of several other women.

The premise of this book intrigued me, partly due to the historical setting of the early 1900's.

There were several protagonists with Mrs King being the main one. They were all quite different, but I found them all to be likeable and I felt sorry for them all for various reasons.

The setting of the early 1900's was interesting, as was the de Vries house, which sounded like a real monstrosity.

The plot was enjoyable overall, but I did find my attention drifting a little towards the middle before the heist began. The heist itself was incredibly bold, and I could understand Mrs King's motivation.

The writing style was easy to follow and I would consider reading another book by this author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. 

 

 

Review - King Alfred’s Daughter by David Stokes

 

 

Title: King Alfred’s Daughter

Author: David Stokes

Pages: 348

 Publisher: The Book Guild

Release Date: 22nd March 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

King Alfred is dead and the achievements that made him great are in jeopardy. Rebels challenge the succession of his son Edward to the Wessex throne, and his old ally in Mercia is sick. The Vikings in the Danelaw sense the time has come to complete their conquest of England. It falls on Alfred’s firstborn, his daughter, Æthelflæd, to unite the Anglo-Saxons. Reluctantly, she takes up the challenge. But can a woman rebuild ruined towns and lead men into battle against hardened Viking warriors? And can Æthelflæd fulfil her father’s dream of uniting England? Based on contemporary sources and archaeological evidence, King Alfred’s Daughter is rich in drama, family conflict and historical achievement. 

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to The Book Guild and NetGalley*

When King Alfred, Æthelflæd's father, dies, her brother takes his place on the throne.

There are some who do not support Edward's rule, and as their enemies in the Danelaw stir, Æthelflæd finds herself drawn into the conflict.

I first heard of Æthelflæd when I visited some local ruins and saw her name on an information board, so when I then, not very long after, came across a fiction book about her life, I was interested to read it.

Æthelflæd was a relatable and likeable protagonist. She didn't always get on with her brother, had been sent away from home to marry, and cared a lot about her people.

The setting of the late 800's to early 900's England was interesting, especially when Æthelflæd described her plans for places that were local to me and I have visited.

The plot was enjoyable overall, but the pacing was a little off in places and there were some unexpected time jumps.

The novel is written from Æthelflæd's perspective as a memoir, which I liked for the most part.

I am hoping that the novel being called 'King Alfred's Daughter' and not something like 'Lady of the Mercians' was intentional given that the point of the novel is to bring Æthelflæd to people's attention, and not to write her off as just someone's daughter.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Review - One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake

 

 

 Title: One For My Enemy

Author: Olivie Blake

Pages: 413

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: 14th June 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes a tale of two rival witch families in modern day New York City, fighting to maintain control of their respective criminal ventures.

On one side of the conflict are the Antonova sisters, each one beautiful, cunning, and ruthless, and their mother, the elusive supplier of premium intoxicants known only as Baba Yaga. On the other side, the influential Fedorov brothers serve their father, the crime boss known as Koschei the Deathless, whose community extortion ventures dominate the shadows of magical Manhattan.

After twelve years of tenuous coexistence, a change in one family’s interests causes a rift in the existing stalemate. When bad blood brings both families to the precipice of disaster, fate intervenes with a chance encounter, and in the aftershocks of a resurrected conflict, everyone must choose a side. As each of the siblings struggles to stake their claim, fraying loyalties threaten to rot each side from the inside out.

If, that is, the enmity between empires doesn’t destroy them first.

 

 

 

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley*

There are two magical families in New York who have been at war for over a decade.

The seven Antonova sisters are led by their mother, who is known as Baba Yaga.

The head of the Fedorovs is called Koschei the Deathless and he has three sons.

The enmity between the families is reignited, and loyalties are tested.

Which family will come out on top?

Having read a few of the author's other books and being disappointed, I was a little wary to pick up this one. However, the blurb intrigued me, and I thought I would give it a go.

There are several protagonists, and while Sasha was probably my favourite, I didn't feel that I connected with any of them. This made it hard to care about what happened to them.

I wasn't a big fan of the romance - it was way too instalovey for me, as I prefer a slow burn.

There wasn't much world-building, and I don't recall the magic system ever being explained.

I enjoyed the plot to begin with, but as it went on, I found myself losing interest and I ended up being glad when the novel finished. I wasn't invested in what happened, and I thought the novel could have been made shorter. It felt like a lot of things happened, but also at the same time that not much happened. Some of the events were a bit random to me, and I didn't understand the motivations of some of the things that happened.

I'm not a big fan of the writing style, and it will take a lot of persuasion for me to pick up another book by this author, as I think perhaps they're just not for me.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

Review - The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble

 

 

 Title: The Situationship

Author: Taylor-Dior Rumble

Pages: 288

Publisher: Merky Books Digital

Release Date: 17th August 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 When the love of her life shows up with a girlfriend, Tia decides it's time to put herself out there.

Expectations of dating apps are low, so it's a surprise when she instantly connects with handsome photographer Nate. He's everything she's looking for; he makes her feel safe, seen, and desired.

Tia assumes they're on the same page - the only catch? They're yet to have The Talk.

In a generation that's normalised competing over who cares the least, can Tia overcome her fears and lay her cards on the table, in the pursuit of something real?

 

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Cornerstone*

Tia can't wait for Aaron, her childhood best friend who she shared a night of passion with before he left for America, to come back to London. But when Aaron comes back, he brings a girlfriend with him.

Tia's friends convince her to try dating apps to help get over Aaron, and Tia reluctantly agrees.

Tia never expected to hit it off with anyone, but she soon connects with Nate.

As Tia and Nate grow closer, Tia wonders if they're on the same page.

Do Tia and Nate want the same thing?

I am not a big romance novel reader, but the blurb for this intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try.

This book is described as a romcom, but I disagree with that as I didn't find it particularly romantic or funny. Instead, I thought it was more about Tia deciding what she wanted in her life - career-wise and relationship-wise.

I found Tia not knowing where her career was going quite relatable, and while I did like her and the relationship she had with her friends and mentor, I don't feel like I got to know her that well overall.

The plot was okay - I liked that Tia was passionate about representation and wanted to write about it - but it did feel like not very much happened, and I did get bored.

The writing style was easy to follow most of the time, but I lost count of the times characters 'kissed their teeth'.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was an okay read.

 

 

Review - Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

 

 Title: Atalanta

Author: Jennifer Saint

 Pages: 365

Publisher: Wildfire

Release Date: 13th April 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Princess, Warrior, Lover, Hero

When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one condition: if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing.

Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis's warning, she begins to question the goddess's true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?

Full of joy, passion, and adventure, Atalanta is the story of a woman who refuses to be contained. Jennifer Saint places Atalanta in the pantheon of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, where she belongs.

 

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My Review:

*I received a eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Headline and NetGalley*

Atalanta was abandoned as a baby on a mountainside by her father, the king, because she was not the son he wanted.

Reared by a mother bear, Atalanta lives in the forest under the goddess Artemis's protection.

Atalanta becomes a skilled huntress and when Artemis offers her the chance to join the Argonauts on their quest for the famed Golden Fleece, Atalanta accepts.

Can Atalanta prove herself to the other Argonauts?

As a fan of Greek mythology, I was surprised that I had never heard of Atalanta before, and that I didn't know there was a female member of the Argonauts.

Atalanta was a likeable protagonist - I admired that she wanted to prove herself equal to, or even better than, the men around her. She'd had an unusual upbringing, and I liked Atalanta's love of the forest.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention. The pacing was pretty good, but I was surprised by how quickly part of the story was over. While I liked the book, I wasn't gripped when reading, and I didn't feel overly invested in what happened.

The writing style was easy to follow.

I have read a few books by the author now, and I would read more.

I am slightly disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I liked finding out more about Atalanta.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Review - Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

 

 

 Title: Our Hideous Progeny

Author: C.E McGill

Pages: 378

 Publisher: Transworld Digital

Release Date: 9th May 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn't know why or how...

The 1850s is a time of discovery and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary, with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, is keen to make her name in this world of science, alongside her geologist husband Henry, but without wealth and connections, their options are limited.

But when Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle's past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing their future... Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland, to Henry's intriguing but reclusive sister Maisie, and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret...

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley*

Mary Sutherland and her husband, Henry, share a love of paleontology and dream of becoming celebrated experts in the field.

The couple are down on their luck, but then Mary discovers hidden letters from a great uncle called Victor Frankenstein that detail an experiment where Victor successfully brought a creature to life.

Mary and Henry decide to make a creature of their own.

The premise of this book intrigued me, although I have never read Frankenstein, and was interested to see what direction the author went in.

Mary was a likeable and relatable protagonist. With the novel being set in the 1800s, there weren't many women in the scientific community, but Mary was determined that her work should be recognised and praised too.

I didn't like Henry very much, but I liked his sister, Maisie, who I felt sorry for.

The plot was interesting for the most part, but I felt that the book could have perhaps been a bit shorter as not much really happened, and I did lose interest once or twice.

I wasn't very invested in what happened.

The writing style was easy to follow, but not one of my favourites. However, it did suit the book.

I'm a little disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

Review - Terciel and Elinor (Abhorsen, #6) by Garth Nix

 

 

 Title: Terciel and Elinor (Abhorsen, #6)

Author: Garth Nix

Pages: 379

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Release Date: 2nd November 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Garth Nix returns to the Old Kingdom for the never-before-told love story of Sabriel’s parents, Tericel and Elinor, and the charter magic that brought them together—and threatened to tear them apart. A long-awaited prequel to a classic fantasy series.

In the Old Kingdom, a land of ancient and often terrible magics, eighteen year-old orphan Terciel learns the art of necromancy from his great-aunt Tizanael. But not to raise the Dead, rather to lay them to rest. He is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, and Tizanael is the Abhorsen, the latest in a long line of people whose task it is to make sure the Dead do not return to Life.

Across the Wall in Ancelstierre, a steam-age country where magic usually does not work, nineteen year-old Elinor lives a secluded life. Her only friends an old governess and an even older groom who was once a famous circus performer. Her mother is a tyrant, who is feared by all despite her sickness and impending death . . . but perhaps there is even more to fear from that.

Elinor does not know she is deeply connected to the Old Kingdom, nor that magic can sometimes come across the Wall, until a plot by an ancient enemy of the Abhorsens brings Terciel and Tizanael to Ancelstierre. In a single day of fire and death and loss, Elinor finds herself set on a path which will take her into the Old Kingdom, into Terciel’s life, and will embroil her in the struggle of the Abhorsens against the Dead who will not stay dead.

 

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Bonnier Books and NetGalley*

 

 

Terciel is being trained by his great aunt Tizanael to be the next Abhorsen - an unusual kind of necromancer who banishes the Dead back where there belong, instead of raising them.

The Abhorsens are well-known in the Old Kingdom, where magic is all around.

However, on the other side of the Wall in Ancelstierre, there is no magic, and the Old Kingdom is not talked about.

Elinor lives in Ancelstierre, and knows nothing of magic until her quiet life is shattered and her world turned upside down.

When Elinor and Terciel's paths cross, Elinor learns of her connection to the Old Kingdom and starts on a journey that is full of danger.

As a long-time fan of this book series, I was excited when I found out there was a new instalment that was a prequel and featured Sabriel's parents.

I found both Terciel and Elinor to be likeable and relatable protagonists. Both of them had been through hard times.

Tizanael and Mirelle were both supporting characters I liked, and I would have liked to have found out more about.

I enjoyed returning to the setting of the Old Kingdom, with the Abhorsen's House.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout. I enjoyed reading Elinor's journey as she discovered more about herself and her family history.

It's been a long time since I've read a book in this series, so I'm sure I must have missed some Easter eggs, but after reading this I am definitely planning to re-read the other books in this series soon.

The writing style was easy to follow, and I felt this a worthy addition to the series.

I very much enjoyed returning to the world of the Old Kingdom, and would recommend it to long-time fans as well as new readers.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.