Review - The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-Ryeong

 

 

Title: The Trunk

Author: Kim Ryeo-Ryeong

Pages: 258

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

Release Date: 19th November 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Meet Noh almost thirty years old, with five wedding rings and counting, she's never once been in love.

When Inji first accepted a job at Wedding & Life, the popular matchmaking service that’s taken Korea by storm, she never imagined her role would be with NM, their secret-marriage division that rents out “husbands” and “wives” to their wealthiest clientele. Just like a real marriage, Inji's assignments involve a wedding, some sex and a bit of housework, all tailored exactly to the client’s desires and for their specified length of time before they go their separate ways—no legal battles, no fights, no emotional baggage.

After several marriages, Inji has become an old hand. She certainly isn’t interested in finding real love, despite everyone trying to convince her her brazen neighbor Granny, her flirtatious best friend, Shi-jeong, and her failed blind date, Tae-seong, who won’t take no for an answer.

Then one of Inji's old husbands, a mysterious high-profile music producer, requests her back for another year. Over the course of their marriage, the secrets of Inji’s past begin to unravel, as well as the dark, sinister underbelly of NM’s management team, who will stop at nothing to preserve their reputation—and their clients…

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My Review: 

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

 

Inji works for a matchmaking company in a secret department where clients sign up to a marriage with a field husband or wife. These marriages are just like real ones, but with a predetermined length.

Inji has been a field wife to several husbands, and is requested by one of them to have a remarriage.

Inji begins to have questions about the company she works for, and her life.

The concept of contract marriages intrigued me, so I thought I would give this book a try. However, I ended up disappointed.

Inji was an okay protagonist. There were times when I felt sorry for her, but there were also times when I found her to be rude or abrasive.

I found the plot enjoyable to begin with, but after a while I started to lose interest and I wasn't at all invested in what was happening. Not much actually happened, and the book felt rather messy to me.

The concept of the contract marriages was interesting, and it's something that I could see happening in real life.

I feel like the book didn't reach its potential, and I'm left a bit confused as to what the author was hoping to achieve with it.

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

Overall, this was an okay read.

 

Review - Daughter of Chaos (The Dark Pantheon, #1) by A.S. Webb

  

 

 

Title: Daughter of Chaos (The Dark Pantheon, #1)

Author: A.S. Webb

Pages: 468

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Release Date: 16th January 2025

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 FOR MORTALS TO RISE THE GODS MUST FALL.

In ancient Greece, the twelve gods demand the ultimate tribute – food, treasure, even human sacrifice.

There are some mortals who cling to a desperate prophecy – telling of one to come who’ll set them free. But few truly believe it.

Until Danae, a fisherman's daughter, eats a mysterious golden apple. And suddenly, her life unravels and a strange and dangerous path unfolds before her.

Chased from her home, she neither understands nor fully controls her future. One which will find Danae walking the winding roads of heroes. There, she encounters and befriends the mighty demi-god, Heracles. Together, they will seek out monsters to battle.

But Danae’s destiny is not to fight beasts.

She will hunt the gods.

She will drag them screaming from Olympus . . .

 

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My Review:

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

Danae has spent all her life on the small Greek island of Naxos, living with her family and giving tribute to the twelve gods.

As bad things happen to those she loves, Danae starts to question the rule of the gods and finds herself on a path that will change everything she knows.

Can mortals be freed from the cruel reign of the gods?

Who is the Last Daughter?

As someone who can't resist a Greek mythology book, I was intrigued to read this and see what happened.

Danae was an okay protagonist. I liked how much she cared for her sister, and that she was willing to fight for what she believed in. However, I never felt that I really connected with her.

I liked some of the secondary characters.

The setting of ancient Greece was interesting and I liked that the author used myths/legends throughout.

The plot was very mixed. I started off enjoying the story, but as it went on things began to bother me - I felt that certain events were brushed over, and that not enough explanation was given - and I found my interest waning. I didn't care about what was happening, and was not invested at all.

I feel that this had a lot of potential, but the execution didn't work for me.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

Review - Butter by Asako Yuzuki, Polly Barton (translator)

 

 

 

 Title: Butter

Author: Asako Yuzuki, Polly Barton (translator)

Pages: 448

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Release Date: 29th February 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, "The Konkatsu Killer", Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

 

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My Review:

 *I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Fourth Estate*

 

Journalist Rika Machida writes for a men's magazine and dreams of getting a job in the editorial team.

Rika has the idea of interviewing Manako Kajii, a woman in Tokyo Detention Centre who was convicted of the deaths of several men she was in relationships with.

Until then, Kajii has refused all visitors and requests for interviews, but when Rika sends her a letter about a recipe, Kajii - who is a known food lover and cook - agrees to meet Rika.

Rika's visits to Kajii will change how Rika sees food, and she finds herself wondering if she's more similar to Kajii than she could ever have thought.

The concept of a Japanese female serial killer intrigued me, and with all the hype around the novel, I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.

Rika was a likeable and relatable protagonist. I liked the relationships she built with secondary characters.

It was interesting to find out more about Kajii and why she was the way she was.

The setting of Japan was interesting, and I enjoyed finding out about the way things are viewed compared to the West.

The plot was okay, but the book could easily have been cut in half as not much really happened. If I hadn't been able to dip in and out of the audiobook version alongside the Kindle version I originally started, I'm not sure I would have finished this. While I wasn't excited to continue reading after putting the book down, I did want to know how it ended.

My favourite part of the book was the exploration of friendship, beauty standards and misogyny.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, and I'm not sure if I will try another book by the author.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

  

 

Review - Honey by Isabel Banta

 

 

 

Title: Honey

Author: Isabel Banta

Pages: 337

Publisher: Zaffre

Release Date: 4th June 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

I didn't like to perform. I liked to be loved. 

It is 1999 and Amber Young is about to transform from nice New Jersey girl to one of the most infamous pop stars of her era. Enter Gwen Morris and Wes Kingston. Gwen has the top music video on MTV's Total Request Live. Wes is a member of the most popular boy band in the world, ETA. They're the American teenage dream, two perfect pop stars in love. In Gwen, Amber finds the first friend who can truly understand her - maybe the only person who ever will. But when Amber goes on tour with ETA as one of their opening acts, she develops an infatuation with Wes that threatens both her friendship with Gwen and the career she is so desperately trying to build. Under the spotlight, Amber must reckon with her own desires, agency, and sense of self-and how the kaleidoscope of public opinion can distort everything.  

Isabel Banta's debut novel, Honey, re-imagines the pop stars of the late 90s and early 2000s, who we idolized and hated, oversexualized and underestimated, giving them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.

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My Review:  

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

Teenager Amber Young loves to sing, and dreams of being famous.

When Amber's dream comes true and she's offered a record deal, Amber is thrust into the limelight with all the ups and downs that come with it.

Amber becomes friends with Gwen, another teenage singer, and Wes, who is part of a boyband.

As Amber's career takes off, she struggles with how the public perceives her and her desires.

As someone who grew up in the 90s and 00s listening to a lot of pop music by young singers such as Britney Spears, I was intrigued to read this book.

Amber was a mostly likeable protagonist. She hadn't had an easy childhood, and had some unresolved issues that affected her. I was rooting for Amber to be her own person and hoped that things would get better for her. There were a couple of times when her actions frustrated me, but she was very young. I liked Amber's relationship with Gwen, and how they supported each other.

The setting of the 90s was interesting and made me feel nostalgic.

The plot was interesting and held my attention throughout, but I wasn't gripped or surprised by anything that happened. I didn't feel overly invested in the characters. The pacing was pretty good throughout. I liked that there were song lyrics and articles scattered throughout.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Review - Saltblood by Francesca de Tores

 

 

 Title: Saltblood

Author: Francesca de Tores

Pages: 328 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: 25th April 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 In a rented room outside Plymouth in 1685, a daughter is born as her half-brother is dying. Her mother makes a decision: Mary will become Mark, and Ma will continue to collect his inheritance money.

Mary's dual existence will take her to a grand house where she'll serve a French mistress; to the navy where she'll learn who to trust, and how to navigate by the stars; to the army and the battlegrounds of Flanders, following her one true friend; and finding love among the bloodshed and mud. But none of this will stop her yearning for the sea.

Drawn back to the water, Mary must reinvent herself yet again, for a woman aboard a ship is a dangerous thing. This time Mary will become something more dangerous than a woman. She will become a pirate.

Breathing life into the Golden Age of Piracy, Saltblood is a wild adventure, a treasure trove, weaving an intoxicating tale of gender and survival, passion and loss, journeys and transformation, through the story of Mary Read, one of history's most remarkable figures.

  

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My Review:

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

 

 

When Mary's older half-brother Mark dies, their mother decides that in order to still receive Mark's inheritance money, Mary will pretend to be Mark.

As Mark, Mary finds work in a house as a servant, then she joins the navy and falls in love with the sea. For the rest of her life, Mary finds herself always drawn to the sea no matter where she is, and she ultimately becomes a pirate.

I had never heard of Mary Read the pirate before, so I was intrigued to read this book.

Mary was an interesting protagonist. I'm not sure how accurate this novel was to her life, but I liked that Mary found her home on the sea. There were a few side characters that I liked and I enjoyed the interactions Mary had with them.

The setting of the 1600s-1700s was interesting, especially as I don't know much about piracy or the wars at the time.

The novel is told from Mary's perspective as she tells her life story, which was interesting and enjoyable. However, because of this there was often a lot more telling rather than showing, which made it harder to feel immersed in the story. This also meant that, towards the end, I felt that the book was too long, and could maybe have been a bit shorter. Yet, I did enjoy finding out about the historical figure Mary Read, and I would like to read more about her.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

  

Review - A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

 

 

 Title: A Crane Among Wolves

Author: June Hur

Pages: 369

Publisher: Wildfire

Release Date: 14th May 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.

1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.

Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom's turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king's latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king's power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.

Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he'll need help to pull it off-but there's no way to know who he can trust.

When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul's family connections and Daehyun's royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever

Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.

 

 

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My Review:

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

Iseul lives in a land ruled by a king who takes whatever he wants, be it land or women.

When Iseul’s older sister is taken by the king, she vows to do whatever it takes to save her sister and bring her home.

Prince Daehyun is forced to submit to the whims of the king, his half-brother, all while dreaming of the day his rule will end.

Iseul and Daehyun’s paths cross, they reluctantly find themselves working together.

Can Daehyun convince enough people to join a coup against the king and overthrow him?

Can Iseul save her sister before it’s too late?

Having read some of the author’s previous books and enjoyed them, I was keen to read this one.

Iseul and Daehyun were both likeable protagonists. I liked that Iseul was so determined to save her sister, and I enjoyed the relationships she made with some of the secondary characters. I would have liked to find out more about Daehyun’s childhood, and more about his life at the palace.

The setting of 1506 Joseon (Korea) was interesting, and I liked that the author used actual historical events and people in the novel, even though it was of course awful what the king did.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout, but I wasn’t gripped or fully absorbed by what happened.

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

  

 

Review - Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

 

 

 

 Title: Alien Clay

Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky

Pages: 396

Publisher: Tor

Release Date: 28th March 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 They travelled into the unknown and left themselves behind...

Alien Clay is a thrilling tale of alien encounter – from the acclaimed Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Professor Arton Daghdev has always wanted to study alien life in person. But when his political activism sees him exiled to the planet Kiln, condemned to work under an unfamiliar sky until he dies, his idealistic wish becomes a terrible reality.

Kiln boasts a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem. Its monstrous alien life means Arton will risk death on a daily basis – if the camp’s oppressive regime doesn’t kill him first. But, if he survives, Kiln’s lost civilization holds a wondrous, terrible secret. It will redefine life and intelligence as he knows it – and might just set him free.

 

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My Review: 

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

-DNF @55% -

Professor Arton Daghdev has been sentenced to a one-way trip to the deadly planet Kiln because of his political views.
Working in the labour camp on Kiln, Arton studies the unusual alien life and ruins, which is unlike anything he has ever seen before.
Life in the camp is harsh, and Arton soon finds himself falling back into old ways and joining with others to form a revolutionary group.
Can Arton survive life on Kiln?

I had never read a book by this author before, but I'd heard good things about their previous novels. As a sci-fi fan, I was keen to give this a try, but ended up being disappointed, unfortunately.
Arton was a mixed protagonist for me - I felt sorry for him ending up in a labour camp on Kiln, but I felt that he could have been more fleshed out, and that I didn't really know much about him as a person.
The world of Kiln was interesting and the life there.
I found the plot to be very slow and I struggled to stay invested or interested in what was happening. The writing style didn't help with this, and I ended up deciding not to continue reading.

Unfortunately, this ended up not being for me.