Friday, March 8, 2024

Review - The Empire (The Empire, #1) by Michael Ball

 

 


Title: The Empire (The Empire, #1)

Author: Michael Ball

Pages: 400

Publisher: Zaffre

Release Date: 13th October 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Welcome to The Empire Theatre.

'It's the jewel of the north, The Empire. Lord Lassiter bought it for his second wife, Lady Lillian and she supervised every detail of the restoration. There's not a finer theatre in the country'.

But The Empire is not just a theatre. From music hall to vaudeville, from revue to grand musical spectacular, it holds a special place in the nation's heart. For its audience, for its actors and singers, for the stagehands, the front-of-house staff, for its backers and its debtors - and above all for its owners - it truly is a palace of dreams.

And for young Jack Treadwell, struggling to adapt to civilian life after the horrors of the trenches, it's a lifeline. When he receives a letter out of the blue inviting him to work at The Empire, he leaps at the chance. After all, it's owned by the family of his former commanding officer, Edmund Lassiter.

But as Jack soon discovers, it is not just the actors who are donning a disguise. With whispers of a cover-up, a scandal and sibling rivalry, tensions rise, along with the curtain. For there is treachery at the heart of The Empire and a dark secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it is too late, and the theatre that means so much to them all goes dark?

Following the lives and loves of the Lassiter and Treadwell families, from the aftermath of the Great War and the Roaring Twenties to the dark days of the Second World War and the Blitz, Michael Ball's debut fiction series charts the story of the high notes and the low notes of British musical theatre in all its glamour, greasepaint and glory.


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My Review:

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

 



The Empire Theatre is owned by the recently widowed Lady Lassiter. Leaving for America to mourn, the running of the theatre is left to the staff, some of whom do not wish to see the theatre do well. There are even people in the town that plot to take the Empire for themselves.
When Jack Treadwell turns up at the Empire following the suggestion of his deceased mother, he finds himself flung into a new and exciting life working at the theatre.
At the Empire, Jack makes friendships and works to save the theatre. All the while, secrets and plotting threaten to ruin everything the staff are working for.

As a fan of the author, I was intrigued to see what their debut novel would be like and it did end up surprising me.
There were a lot of characters introduced at once, which I did find a little confusing. Jack Treadwell was possibly the character that had the most runtime so to speak. He was a war veteran who had recently returned back to the UK after being in France. I liked his relationships with the other characters.
Whilst I didn't particularly have a favourite character, I did like that there was a variety of different characters with different backgrounds and motives. However, some of them did seem a bit two dimensional.
One of my favourite dynamics in the book ended up being between Joe and Agnes, which I hadn't expected at the beginning.
The setting of the 1920s was interesting, and the time period affected the story line.
The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout. There were several events that surprised me, and more layers to the novel than I expected. However, I was never gripped or sucked into the plot.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.



Sunday, February 11, 2024

Review - Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

 

 


Title: Stone Blind

Author: Natalie Haynes

Pages: 379

Publisher: Mantle

 Release Date: 15th September 2022


Blurb from Goodreads:
 
 ** Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 **


In Stone Blind, the instant Sunday Times bestseller, Natalie Haynes brings the infamous Medusa to life as you have never seen her before.

'Witty, gripping, ruthless' - Margaret Atwood via Twitter
'Beautiful and moving' - Neil Gaiman via Twitter

'So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters.’

Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt. And her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can – and Medusa is changed forever. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. The power cannot be Medusa can look at nothing without destroying it. She is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness.

Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .



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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*




Unlike her Gorgon sisters, Medusa is mortal. However, because of her wings, Medusa stays away from the other mortals.

When Medusa catches the eye of Poseidon, the sea god, his actions lead to Medusa being cursed by the goddess Athene - where Medusa's hair once was is now a mass of snakes, and any living creature that meets Medusa's gaze is instantly turned to stone.

Medusa stays at her home with her sisters, safe until a young man named Perseus comes searching for the Gorgons.


As a fan of Greek mythology and having enjoyed several of the author's previous works, I was looking forward to reading this.

While Medusa is a main characters in this book, the story has several main characters whose lives entwine quite cleverly - alongside Medusa, there are chapters on Athene, Poseidon, Perseus, Andromeda, and several others.

The chapters about Medusa and her sisters were interesting and I really liked their close relationship.

Perseus was a character I disliked immensely, and the chapters on Athene made me see her in a new light.

The volatile relationships between the different gods were interesting to read, especially when they were trying to one-up each other or get revenge.

I thought the author did a really good job of weaving several story-lines together, and it was done in a very engaging way.


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



Friday, February 2, 2024

Review - Princess of Souls (Hundred Kingdoms, #2) by Alexandra Christo

 

 

 


Title: Princess of Souls (Hundred Kingdoms, #2)

Author: Alexandra Christo

Pages: 417

 Publisher: Hot Key Books

 Release Date: 11th October 2022


Blurb from Goodreads:

Return to the world of TO KILL A KINGDOM for a brand-new fantasy adventure about a young witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king and the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied.

For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.

Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.

A feast of storytelling, featuring breathtaking journeys, nail-biting battles and powerful magic.


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My Review:

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



Selestra has spent her life trapped behind palace walls, the heir to her mother's place as the immortal King's witch.

Every year at the Festival of Predictions, people risk the price of having their souls claimed by the King for the chance to earn a wish and take the King's immortality for themselves. However, doing so means attempting to avoid almost certain death, something no one has ever been able to do.

This year, Nox, a soldier in the King's army, takes part in the Festival, driven by the need to avenge his father's death at the King's hand.

When Selestra and Nox's futures become linked, they will have to work together if they want to survive until the end of the festival.

Together can they bring an end to the King's tyranny?


Having both enjoyed and not liked some of the author's previous books, I was a little hesitant to try this one, but I'm glad I did.

I found both Selestra and Nox to be likeable and relatable protagonists, and they'd both had tough lives, but I did like Selestra more. Their interactions were enjoyable to read, but I did find the jibes a bit too much at times.

My favourite character was Irenya, Selestra's friend, and I liked their relationship.

Selestra's mother was quite an interesting, complex character. I would have liked to find out more about her and her past/experiences as the King's witch.

The setting was interesting and I enjoyed finding out more about the world and its lore.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention. The pacing was pretty good throughout, but I did start to lose interest a little towards the end. I didn't feel overly invested in what happened, but I was rooting for Selestra to show her mother and the King that she was more than just the heir.

The writing style was easy to follow.


Overall, this was an enjoyable read.




Sunday, January 14, 2024

Review - Blood to Poison by Mary Watson

 

 


 Title: Blood to Poison

Author: Mary Watson

Pages: 396

 Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Release Date: 14th April 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads: 

 An epic South African fantasy from award-winning author Mary Watson, for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and The Gilded Ones.

Seventeen-year-old Savannah is cursed. It's a sinister family heirloom; passed down through the bloodline for hundreds of years, with one woman in every generation destined to die young. The family call them Hella's girls, named for their ancestor Hella; the enslaved woman with whom it all began. Hella's girls are always angry, especially in the months before they die.

The anger is bursting from Savannah Рat the men who cat-call her in the street, at her mother's disingenuous fianc̩, even at her own loving family. Each fit of rage is bringing her closer to the edge and now Savannah has to act to save herself. Or die trying. Because the key to survival lies in the underbelly of Cape Town, where the sinister veilwitches are waiting for just such a girl.

Blood to Poison is a furious and mesmerising story about discovering magic, historical rage and love in all its guises.


 

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review:

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




A blood curse runs in Savannah's family, one that gives some of the girls an unparalleled anger and causes them to die young. Savannah's beloved aunt died from the curse, and now signs point to Savannah being next, and soon.

Savannah struggles to contain her anger, but she must if she wants to find a way to stop the curse before it is too late.


The premise for this book really intrigued me, so I was excited to read it, but, unfortunately, it ended up being a mixed read.

Savannah was an OK protagonist - there were times when I found her annoying, and times when I felt sorry for her - but I never felt that I really connected to her, or was invested in what happened to her.

None of the characters particularly stood out for me, but I did like that Savannah had family members and friends that looked out for her.

The setting of Cape Town was interesting, as was the magic in the book - the Four Sisters and the Veil Witches - but I would have liked a bit more information on these.

The plot was mixed for me, as there were parts where I got a little bored, but I found other parts interesting. However, I wasn't invested in what happened and did get confused a couple of times - partly due to the writing feeling a bit disjointed.


Overall, this was a mixed read.


 

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Review - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

 

 
 

 
Title: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
 
Author: Roshani Chokshi
 
Pages: 304
 
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
 
Release Date: 16th February 2023
 
 
Blurb from Goodreads:
 
 A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.


Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My Review:
 
 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*




A scholar of fairy tales meets the enigmatic Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, an heiress who is as beautiful as she is mysterious.

When the two marry, Indigo asks that the bridegroom never digs into her past, and the two live happily ever after.

Or, at least, they do until Indigo has to leave for her childhood home because her estranged aunt is seriously ill.

At the House of Dreams, the bridegroom is enticed by the promise of secrets and finds himself unable to stop from searching for answers.

Who is Azure?

Why does Indigo not talk about her and where did she go?


The premise for this book really intrigued me, especially the mystery element.

Out of the bridegroom, Indigo and Azure, I found Azure to be the most interesting character and I enjoyed her chapters the most. I didn't like Indigo very much, but she was a complex character. I felt indifferent about the bridegroom.

The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped.

The magical realism element was intriguing and made the novel unique.

I enjoyed the writing style and found it easy to follow.

While I did like this novel, I can see other people enjoying it more than I did.


Overall, this was an enjoyable, unique read.



Sunday, December 3, 2023

Review - Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo

 

 


Title: Over My Dead Body

Author: Sweeney Boo

Pages: 242

Publisher: Titan

Release Date: 18th November 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Fans of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Dark Academia will love diving into the mysterious and witchy world of award-nominated creator Sweeny Boo. Enchanting full-color illustrations in this graphic novel will be sure to charm readers as they explore the halls of Younwity's Institute of Magic and the forbidden forest that lies beyond. In the days leading up to Samhain, the veil between the world of the dead and the living is at its thinnest. One day, everything was going exactly as it was supposed to be. And the next, the closest thing Abby ever had to a sister, Noreen, was just… gone. Distracted by the annual presentations for the Samhain festival, Abby's classmates are quick to put Noreen's disappearance aside. The Coven will find her, Abby's friends say. They have it under control. But Abby can't let go. Soon a search for answers leads her down a rabbit hole that uncovers more secrets than Abby can handle. As mounting evidence steers her toward the off-limits woods that surround the academy, she begins to see that Noreen's disappearance mysteriously has a lot in common with another girl who went missing all those years ago…



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My Review:
 

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley*




Abby attends the Younwity's Institute of Magic with her friends.

Preparations for the Samhain festival are underway when Abby's closest friend, Noreen, disappears.

Abby doesn't understand why her other friends aren't more concerned about Noreen, and is determined to find her.

As Abby searches for Noreen, she uncovers long-buried secrets about another student that vanished decades ago.


As a fan of the author's art, I was intrigued to see what their graphic novel would be like, especially as I liked the witch aspect.

The characters were relatable and I really felt for Abby when she struggled so much with Noreen's disappearance.

I liked that the characters all had different kinds of creatures as their familiars, and that they talked.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but I wasn't particularly shocked by anything that happened. However, I really liked the theme of friendship and found the setting interesting.

I really enjoy the author's style of drawing and liked the art throughout the book.


Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Review - Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Lin

 

 


Title: Portrait of a Thief

Author: Grace D. Li

Pages: 385

Publisher: Coronet

Release Date: 14th April 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

This was how things began: Boston on the cusp of fall, the Sackler Museum robbed of 23 pieces of priceless Chinese art. Even in this back room, dust catching the slant of golden, late-afternoon light, Will could hear the sirens. They sounded like a promise.

Will Chen, a Chinese American art history student at Harvard, has spent most of his life learning about the West – its art, its culture, all that it has taken and called its own. He believes art belongs with its creators, so when a Chinese corporation offers him a (highly illegal) chance to reclaim five priceless sculptures, it’s surprisingly easy to say yes.

Will’s crew, fellow students chosen out of his boundless optimism for their skills and loyalty, aren’t exactly experienced criminals. Irene is a public policy major at Duke who can talk her way out of anything; Daniel is pre-med with steady hands and dreams of being a surgeon. Lily is an engineering student who races cars in her spare time; and Will is relying on Alex, an MIT dropout turned software engineer, to hack her way in and out of each museum they must rob.

Each student has their own complicated relationship with China and the identities they’ve cultivated as Chinese Americans, but one thing soon becomes certain: they won’t say no.

Because if they succeed? They earn an unfathomable ten million each, and a chance to make history. If they fail, they lose everything . . . and the West wins again.



Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop





My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*





Will Chen is a senior at Harvard studying art history.

When a Chinese corporation offers Will a life-changing amount of money in exchange for stealing five works of art that now reside in museums around the world, Will says yes.

Will puts together a team made up of; Irene, Will's sister, who has a way of always getting what she wants; Lily, Irene's room-mate who drag races cars for fun; Daniel, a childhood friend of both Will and Irene; and Alex, a software engineer friend of Will's.

Each member of the team has their own reason for agreeing to the heists, but can they break into several museums and avoid getting caught by the police?


The premise for this book really intrigued me, so I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my hopes.

Will is the main protagonist, but we get chapters from the points of view of all members of the heist team. Out of all of them, I liked Alex and Daniel the most. I struggled a little with Will, and his chapters were probably the ones I looked forward to the least.

The themes and ideas were interesting and thought-provoking. I definitely found myself thinking about museums in a new light.

The plot was interesting for the most part, but the pacing was a little off for me and I did get a bit bored once or twice. There wasn't anything that happened that particularly shocked me, and I wasn't very invested in what happened to the characters.

The writing style was enjoyable, and easy to follow.

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

Whilst there were some important topics covered in this book, which were well done I thought, this ended up being a mixed read for me.


Overall, this was a mixed read.