Review - Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May

 

 

Title: Wild and Wicked Things

Author: Francesca May

Pages: 466

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 29th March 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 In the aftermath of the First World War, a young woman gets swept into a glittering world filled with illicit magic, romance, blood debts and murder in this lush and decadent debut novel.

On Crow Island, people whispered, real magic lurked just below the surface. But Annie Mason never expected her enigmatic new neighbour to be a witch.

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

My Review:

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

When Annie's estranged father dies, she finds herself travelling to the notorious Crow Island to sort through his things.

On the mainland, magic is prohibited after the events of the First World War. However, on Crow Island, the use of magic is less controlled and Annie soon discovers that her new neighbour is a witch.

As Annie spends time on the island, she is reunited with her best friend from home, Bea, who now lives there. Annie also discovers more about her father, and is drawn to her bewitching neighbour Emmeline.

As Annie is sucked into the world of magic, she discovers that it can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

The pitch for this book intrigued me - The Great Gatsby with witches - but, unfortunately, it didn't live up to my hopes.

Annie was an OK protagonist. I liked her, and I felt sorry for her at times, but didn't feel that I fully connected with her.

Bea and Emmeline were mixed characters for me - there were times when I liked them and times when I didn't.

My favourite characters were probably Nathan and Isobel, whose relationship I liked.

The setting of the island and being just after World War I was interesting. As Crow Island was a separate entity from the mainland, there didn't seem to be any after-effects from the war, such as rationing, and I wasn't sure how realistic that was - surely there would have been some foods they couldn't get? - but given that this book has magic and witches, it's not exactly realistic.

There was some world-building, which was interesting, but it did seem a little vague and was a little confusing.

The plot was mixed - while it did go in a direction that I wasn't expecting, I was never gripped, and didn't feel immersed or invested in what was happening.

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

Overall, this was a mixed read.

Review - The Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga, #1) by John Gwynne

 

 

Title: The Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga, #1)

Author: John Gwynne

Pages: 500

Publisher: Orbit

 Release Date: 4th May 2021

Blurb from Goodreads:

This is the age of storm and murder.

After the old gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrio.

Now, power-hungry jarls carve out petty kingdoms, and monsters stalk the shadow-haunted woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power, promising fame and fortune for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.

As whispers of war echo over the plains and across the fjords, fate follows the footsteps of three people: a huntress searching for her missing son, a jarl's daughter who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who has cast off his chains and now fights alongside the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

All three will shape the fate of the world, as it once more teeters on the edge of chaos.

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

My Review:

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

Gods once ruled the land of Vigrio, but their war led to nearly all of them dying and monsters being released.

Now humans rule and fight for power, and those deemed Tainted, who have the blood of the Gods in their veins, are hunted or enslaved.

There is unease spreading throughout the land, and many lives will be forever changed by what comes next - including a former warrior who has left violence behind for a family life, a slave seeking vengeance, and a woman thirsting for a life of battle fame over a life of being a pawn living in luxury.

Going into this book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I am glad that I gave it a try.

There are three protagonists: Orka, a former warrior who had set down her axe to settle down and have a family; Varg, a slave seeking vengeance for his sister's death; and Elvar, who left behind a life of luxury to chase glory in battle.

While Orka was my favourite character, I did very much like all three of the protagonists and enjoyed reading their interactions with others, and the bonds/friendships they formed with other characters. I particularly found Elvar and Grend's relationship intriguing.

The setting of Vigrio was interesting and I thought the world-building was very good. I could definitely tell it was Norse-inspired.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout, although it did feel maybe a little bit too long for me. However, once things started to come together towards the end, it did feel satisfying after all the build-up and the ending was very good. I am intrigued to see what happens next.

I would definitely read another book by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, solid read.