Review - Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

 

 

 

Title: Mortal Follies

Author: Alexis Hall

Pages: 400

Publisher: Del Rey

Release Date: 6th June 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 A young noblewoman must join forces with a rumoured witch to conquer an ancient curse in this devilishly funny and heartwarming sapphic Regency romantasy from TikTok titan and bestselling author of Boyfriend Material Alexis Hall.

It is the year 1814 and Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into the highest society of Bath hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough, with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at the ball of the season, a scandal she only narrowly manages to escape.

However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, she realises she must seek out urgent assistance, even if that means mixing with the most undesirable company-and there are few less desirable allies than the brooding Lady Georgiana Landrake-who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune.

If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress.
Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs.

 

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My Review:

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

Maelys Mitchelmore is a young lady enjoying her time in Bath society when strange things begin to happen to her. Maelys learns that someone has put a curse on her, and she must work with her friends to undo the curse before it is too late.

Maelys finds unexpected, and somewhat reluctant, help from Lady Georgiana Landrake, a young woman people avoid due to the strange deaths of Lady Georgiana's brothers and father, that rumour has it she caused.

Can Maelys undo the curse?

The premise for this book intrigued me, as I liked the mix of the historical setting with magic and a sapphic romance thrown in (this is not a spoiler as the book is promoted as a sapphic romantasy). However, I ended up being disappointed.

Maelys was an okay protagonist. I liked her for the most part, but I didn't feel that I really got to know her and she felt very flat to me.

I didn't like Lady Georgiana very much. I understand that she acted the way she did because of things that had happened to her in the past, but that didn't absolve her for me, even with the things Georgiana did to help Maelys.

Miss Bickle was probably my favourite character, although she did feel a bit like the comic relief at times.

The romance felt forced to me, and I couldn't feel the connection between the characters.

The story is told from the perspective of a hobgoblin, which was unique. However, this did make it hard to connect with the characters and with what was happening as it felt like I was on the outside, and clearly being told what was happening, instead of experiencing events with the characters.

The plot was mixed - I enjoyed it to begin with, but then I found myself losing interest. The pacing was a big problem for me, because something happened around halfway through that I was expecting to happen towards the end. Unfortunately, not much seemed to happen after that, and I did find myself skim reading a little to try and get to the end, as I was bored and not invested in the plot or characters at all.

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

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

Review - The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry

 

 

 

 Title: The Magician's Daughter

Author: H.G. Parry

Pages: 372

Publisher: Orbit

 Release Date: 28th February 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Off the coast of Ireland sits a legendary island hidden by magic. A place of ruins and ancient trees, sea-salt air and fairy lore, Hy-Brasil is the only home Biddy has ever known. Washed up on its shore as a baby, Biddy lives a quiet life with her guardian, the mercurial magician Rowan. A life she finds increasingly stifling.

One night, Rowan fails to return from his mysterious travels. To find him, Biddy must venture into the outside world for the first time. But Rowan has powerful enemies-forces who have hoarded the world's magic and have set their sights on the magician's many secrets.

Biddy may be the key to stopping them. Yet the closer she gets to answers, the more she questions everything she's ever believed about Rowan, her past, and the nature of magic itself.

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley*

Biddy lives in a version of 1912 where magic has been disappearing over the last seventy years.

Biddy has known magic all her life, residing on the hidden island of Hy-Brasil with her guardian, Rowan, and his rabbit familiar, Hutch.

Biddy loves the island, but yearns to see the outside world.

When Rowan doesn't come back one night after journeying across the sea in search of more magic, Biddy finds herself thrust into a dangerous adventure that will change everything Biddy knows.

Can Biddy track down Rowan on the foreign streets of London?

Is there a way to save magic?

I have a mixed history with this author's previous books, having really enjoyed one, and ending up not finishing another. However, the blurb for this book intrigued me, and I decided to give it a try.

Biddy was a likeable and relatable protagonist. I empathised with her, and rooted for her. I was also a little jealous of Biddy growing up on Hy-Brasil, which sounded wonderful.

I liked both Rowan and Hutch, and the relationships they had with Biddy and each other. Hutch was my favourite character overall, as I liked how much he clearly loved both Rowan and Biddy and fretted for them.

The setting of Hy-Brasil was interesting, and it was the total opposite of the dark, grimy streets of London.

The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped by what was happening. I thought the story was set up well, and I did enjoy the world the author had created.

The writing style was easy to follow, and I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

 

Review - A Curse of Salt by Sarah Street

 

 

 

 Title: A Curse of Salt

Author: Sarah Street

Pages: 350

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Release Date: 25th May 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 A heartless beast
A sister's sacrifice
And a love so strong it will drown the raging sea ...
THIS FAIRY TALE IS CURSED

In a kingdom that fears the sea, Ria Lucroy longs to be brave.

Bodies are washing ashore and everyone knows who's to blame. Legends of the Heartless King shroud the continent in fear; they call him a pirate, a monster, a god. When his mercenaries raid her father's merchant ship, Ria's family is faced with a horrifying demand. They will spare his life, in exchange for one of his daughters.

Determined to save her sisters, Ria launches herself into the world of pirates. Face-to-face with the Heartless King, she finds he is far more than the stories told. He is a man, with a human name and blood-stained hands, bound to the seas by a centuries-old curse. As their chemistry blooms into something more, Ria finds herself caught in an ancient web of secrets.

Battling creatures of the deep alongside those that reign its surface, Ria discovers how to love a heartless man and that some curses aren't so easy to break.

Prepare for stormy seas and swoony romance in this addictive enemies-to-lovers fairytale romance. Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer's Cursebreakers series and Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses.

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley*

Ria Lucroy lives with her sisters and father near the sea, which Ria has always found herself drawn towards.

One day, Ria's father's ship is attacked and her father is the only survivor, but on the condition that he sends Ria's sister to the murderous Heartless King. The King is a pirate known for his cruelty and savage ways.

Determined to save her sister from this fate, and her father who is adamant he will not give his daughter up, Ria takes her sister's place.

On the Heartless King's ship, Ria learns of secrets that have been kept from her that put her life in jeopardy.

Can Ria survive her time on the Heartless King's ship?

Upon learning that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling with pirates, I was instantly intrigued and was interested to see what would happen. Unfortunately, I ended up being disappointed.

Ria was a likeable and relatable protagonist. I liked how much she cared for her family and was willing to put herself at risk for them. I felt sorry for her when she learned that they had kept things from her.

I liked several of the crew members on the Heartless King's ship, but there weren't any characters that really stood out for me.

The plot was mixed for me - I started off enjoying the book, but after a while I did find myself losing interest. It didn't help that I wasn't overly invested in what happened and I wasn't a big fan of the romance.

The writing style was easy to follow.

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

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

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.