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. 

 

  

Review - Hera by Jennifer Saint

 

 

 

Title: Hera

Author: Jennifer Saint

Pages: 352

Publisher: Publisher

Release Date: 23rd May 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 When Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helps her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side. As they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed. She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world? Often portrayed as the jealous wife or the wicked stepmother, this retelling captures the many sides of Hera, vengeful when she needs to be but also compassionate and mostly importantly, an all-powerful queen to the gods. 

 

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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*

After Hera and her brother, Zeus, win the war against their cruel father, Cronos, and his fellow Titans, they establish a palace on Mount Olympus.

As the ranks of the Olympians swell, Hera comes to see that she will never rule equally at Zeus's side as she wants, and instead finds herself reluctantly bound to Zeus as his wife, subject to his whims and desires.

I have been a fan of Greek mythology for a long time, but Hera was one of the main gods that I didn't know much about.

I did enjoy finding out more about Hera, but I had mixed feelings about her - there were times when I liked and felt sorry for Hera, but there were also times when her actions made me dislike her. I wouldn't have wanted to be in Hera's position, but she could be very selfish at times.

The plot was interesting overall, but there were times when I did find my attention drifting a little. It didn't feel as cohesive or as smooth flowing as it could have.

While I did enjoy this overall, it isn't a favourite of the author's Greek mythology books I've read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

   

Review - The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

 

 

Title: The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands

Author: Sarah Brooks

Pages: 367

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Release Date: 20th June 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.

It is the end of the nineteenth century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.

Nothing touches the Wastelands except the Great Trans-Siberian an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares.

Onto the platform steps a curious cast of Marya, a grieving woman with a borrowed name; Weiwei, a famous child born on the train; and Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist.

But there are whispers that the train isn't safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel, the passengers and crew must survive their journey together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . .

  

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My Review:

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

The Great Trans-Siberian is the only way to cross the Wastelands that lie between Beijing and Moscow. The train is a wonder, and supposedly protects the passengers from the dangers outside, but there are rumours this isn't the case.

Will the train and its passengers survive the crossing?

The premise of this book intrigued me, and as a fan of historical fantasy novels, I was eager to read it.

There were three protagonists; Marya, who concealed her true identity by pretending to be a mourning widow; Weiwei, who was born on the train and had been on every crossing since working as a member of staff; and Henry Grey, who was a scientist that had been disgraced and would do anything to regain his good name. Of the three, I found Marya and Weiwei more interesting and relatable. I felt for them, but didn't find Henry very easy to care for.

The setting of the train and the Wastelands were both intriguing and I liked finding out more about both.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but I did find myself losing interest after a while as the pacing was a bit off.

I am a little disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but the book didn't quite come together for me.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

Review - The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

 

 

 

 Title: The Blue Hour

Author: Paula Hawkins

Pages: 336

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Release Date: 10th October 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 The masterful new thriller from the global No.1 bestseller and one of our most powerful psychological storytellers.

Eris, an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day.

Once home to Vanessa. A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.

Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.

And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

 

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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*

 

There is a Scottish island called Eris that is only accessible from the mainland at certain times of the day.

The island was once inhabited by Vanessa, a famous artist who had a tumultuous relationship with her husband who went missing.

Grace now lives on the island - a friend of Vanessa's whose isolation is about to be disturbed by a visitor who will unearth memories and secrets best left buried.

This was my first Paula Hawkins novel, and I wasn't sure what I would make of it, but I did enjoy the book overall.

There are essentially three protagonists - Vanessa, the artist who passed away several years ago and whose perspective we see through her diary entries; Grace, a doctor, who became friends with Vanessa and later lived with her; and Becker, a fan of Vanessa's work who is involved with the institute that now owns Vanessa's work. Vanessa, Grace, and Becker were all quite different, and it was interesting to find out more about them.

The setting of Eris was eerie and very isolated. It certainly added to the atmosphere of the book.

The plot was enjoyable, if a little predictable. I found the ending disappointing and a little pointless.

I found the writing style engaging and it was very easy to keep reading.

While I am maybe a little disappointed I didn't enjoy this more, I would definitely consider reading another novel by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

  

 

 

Review - An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

 

 

 

 Title: An Education in Malice

Author: S.T. Gibson

Pages: 367

Publisher: Orbit

 Release Date: 13th February 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Love is sacrifice. One of us was always going to bleed for the other.

Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold.

On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.

But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.

  

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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*

When Laura Sheridan starts at Saint Perpetua's College, she finds herself drawn to Carmilla, another student.

The two develop a rivalry in their poetry class, both wanting to please their professor, De Lafontaine.

Laura finds herself drawn into Carmilla and De Lafontaine's unusual relationship, and a dark secret that will change everything.

I believe that this a retelling of Carmilla, which I haven't read, but the blurb intrigued me enough to request a copy of this book.

The story is told from both Carmilla and Laura's perspectives, which I liked as it was interesting to see both their opinions of events. However, I struggled to connect with either of them, and found Laura lacking in personality.

I liked the dark academia aspect, and found the student-teacher relationship between Carmilla and De Lafontaine interesting.

The plot was lacking for me as not much really happened, and I wasn't invested in what did happen. I didn't like the romantic relationship, as I couldn't feel the spark between the characters.

I didn't love the writing style as it felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing what was happening.

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

Overall, this was an okay read.