Review - Terciel and Elinor (Abhorsen, #6) by Garth Nix

 

 

 Title: Terciel and Elinor (Abhorsen, #6)

Author: Garth Nix

Pages: 379

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Release Date: 2nd November 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Garth Nix returns to the Old Kingdom for the never-before-told love story of Sabriel’s parents, Tericel and Elinor, and the charter magic that brought them together—and threatened to tear them apart. A long-awaited prequel to a classic fantasy series.

In the Old Kingdom, a land of ancient and often terrible magics, eighteen year-old orphan Terciel learns the art of necromancy from his great-aunt Tizanael. But not to raise the Dead, rather to lay them to rest. He is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, and Tizanael is the Abhorsen, the latest in a long line of people whose task it is to make sure the Dead do not return to Life.

Across the Wall in Ancelstierre, a steam-age country where magic usually does not work, nineteen year-old Elinor lives a secluded life. Her only friends an old governess and an even older groom who was once a famous circus performer. Her mother is a tyrant, who is feared by all despite her sickness and impending death . . . but perhaps there is even more to fear from that.

Elinor does not know she is deeply connected to the Old Kingdom, nor that magic can sometimes come across the Wall, until a plot by an ancient enemy of the Abhorsens brings Terciel and Tizanael to Ancelstierre. In a single day of fire and death and loss, Elinor finds herself set on a path which will take her into the Old Kingdom, into Terciel’s life, and will embroil her in the struggle of the Abhorsens against the Dead who will not stay dead.

 

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My Review:

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

 

 

Terciel is being trained by his great aunt Tizanael to be the next Abhorsen - an unusual kind of necromancer who banishes the Dead back where there belong, instead of raising them.

The Abhorsens are well-known in the Old Kingdom, where magic is all around.

However, on the other side of the Wall in Ancelstierre, there is no magic, and the Old Kingdom is not talked about.

Elinor lives in Ancelstierre, and knows nothing of magic until her quiet life is shattered and her world turned upside down.

When Elinor and Terciel's paths cross, Elinor learns of her connection to the Old Kingdom and starts on a journey that is full of danger.

As a long-time fan of this book series, I was excited when I found out there was a new instalment that was a prequel and featured Sabriel's parents.

I found both Terciel and Elinor to be likeable and relatable protagonists. Both of them had been through hard times.

Tizanael and Mirelle were both supporting characters I liked, and I would have liked to have found out more about.

I enjoyed returning to the setting of the Old Kingdom, with the Abhorsen's House.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout. I enjoyed reading Elinor's journey as she discovered more about herself and her family history.

It's been a long time since I've read a book in this series, so I'm sure I must have missed some Easter eggs, but after reading this I am definitely planning to re-read the other books in this series soon.

The writing style was easy to follow, and I felt this a worthy addition to the series.

I very much enjoyed returning to the world of the Old Kingdom, and would recommend it to long-time fans as well as new readers.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Review - I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

 

 

 

Title: I Wish You All The Best

Author: Mason Deaver

Pages: 336

Publisher: Push

Release Date: 14th May 2019

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.

But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

 

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My Review: 

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

Ben De Backer is kicked out of their family home when they come out to their parents as nonbinary. With no other options, Ben calls their older sister, Hannah, who they haven't seen or spoken to in years.

Hannah and her husband, Thomas, who Ben has never met, let Ben move into their home, and to finish off the rest of senior year at the school where Thomas teaches.

Ben just wants to keep their head down and not draw attention, but a fellow student called Nathan seems determined to befriend them.

I had heard good things about this book, so I was excited to read it.

The book throws the reader straight into the deep end, with Ben being thrown out of their home right at the very start. I found this jarring, as I hadn't had time to get to know Ben, but that may have been the author's intention.

Ben was a likeable and relatable protagonist for the most part - while I did empathise with them, and knew that I couldn't even begin to know what they were going through, I did find the self-pity a bit annoying at times.

I liked the supporting characters and the relationships that Ben developed.

The plot was interesting and held my attention. However, I felt that from the beginning, I was never fully immersed or invested in what happened, which I think was down to the jarring opening.

I can see this being a very important book to a lot of people, and it is certainly an important topic, it just didn't hit home for me, unfortunately.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

 

Review - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

 

 

 

 Title: When Among Crows

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 171

Publisher: Titan

Release Date: 14th May 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Step into a city where monsters feast on human emotions, knights split their souls to make their weapons, and witches always take more than they give.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. To slay the monsters he’s been raised to kill, he had to split his soul in half to make a sword from his own spine. Every time he draws it, he gets blood on his hands.

Pain is Ala’s inheritance. When her mother died, a family curse to witness horrors committed by the Holy Order was passed onto her. The curse will claim her life, as it did her mother’s, unless she can find a cure.

One fateful night in Chicago, Dymitr comes to Ala with a her help in finding the legendary witch Baba Jaga in exchange for an enchanted flower that just might cure her. Desperate, and unaware of what Dymitr really is, Ala agrees.

But they only have one day before the flower dies . . . and Ala's hopes of breaking the curse along with it.

 

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My Review:

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

Note - I ended up reading the audiobook version of this book.

Monsters are real and there are people that fight them.

Dymitr is one such person, and one night he finds himself making a deal with Ala, a monster Dymitr would usually kill.

Dymitr offers Ala a cure to the curse that has haunted her family for years, in exchange for her help in finding the location of Baba Jaga, the legendary witch.

With a time limit on the cure, can Dymitr and Ala work together?

The Polish folklore in this book really intrigued me, as did the cover, so I was looking forward to reading it.

Dymitr and Ala were both likeable and relatable protagonists. I also liked Nico a lot. It was enjoyable to read the interactions between the trio.

The setting of a Chicago with what the Holy Order perceived as 'monsters' was interesting, and I really liked the fantastical element. I would have liked to find out more about the Order and the different 'monsters'.

I really liked that Polish was used in this book, and it made me interested in finding out more about the folklore.

The plot was interesting and immediately grabbed my attention, making me invested in the characters. The book is only short, and it was fast to read, but I would have liked it to have been longer.

I would happily read a sequel or a book set in the same world.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

Review - The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins

 

 

 Title: The Silence Factory

 Author: Bridget Collins

Pages: 383

Publisher: The Borough Press

 Release Date: 9th May 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Henry dreams of silence.

A world without the clattering of carriages through cobbled streets, the distant cries of drunken brawls, the relentless ticking of the clock.

Then he meets a fascinating, mysterious gentleman who sells just that. Precious silk that can drown out the clamour of the world – and everything Henry is so desperate to escape.

Summoned to Sir Edward’s secluded factory to try to cure his young daughter’s deafness, Henry is soon drawn deeper and deeper into the origins of this otherworldly gift: a gift that has travelled from ancient Mediterranean glades to English libraries.

Ignoring repeated warnings from the girl’s secretive governess, he allows himself to fall under the spell of Sir Edward and his silk… but when he learns its true cost, will it be too late to turn back?

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My Review:

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

Note - I ended up reading the audiobook version of this book.

In 1820, Sophia Ashmore-Percy and her husband travel to a Greek island. While there, Sophia's husband searches for a special spider and Sophia grows close to one of the village women.

Several decades later, widower Henry Latimer finds himself in the home of Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy, a man in the silk business whose daughter's deafness Henry will try and cure.

Sir Edward is an ambitious man whose silk is made by spiders and has the ability to block out sound. However, the silk can also harm those around it.

As Henry becomes entangled in Sir Edward's business, he learns that perhaps there is more to Sir Edward and the spiders than there appears.

I hadn't read a book by this author before, but I'd heard good things about their previous books, so I was looking forward to reading this one.

Sophia and Henry were both likeable protagonists. However, I did like Sophia more, and did find Henry a little annoying at times, but I could understand why he acted the way he did. I felt sorry for both Sophia and Henry, as neither of them had an easy time of things.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but nothing that happened surprised me, and I wasn't gripped. I also didn't feel particularly invested in what happened to Sophia or Henry.

The writing style was easy to follow and I would read another book by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

 

Review - Happy Place by Emily Henry

 

Title: Happy Place

Author: Emily Henry

Pages: 400

 Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 25th April 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Harriet and Wyn are the perfect couple - they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Except, now they don't.

They broke up six months ago. And they still haven't told anyone.

Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the cottage that has been their yearly getaway with their best friends for the past decade. For one glorious week they leave behind their lives, drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth. The cottage is for sale so this is the last time they'll all be together here and they can't bear to break their friends' hearts. So, they'll fake it for one more week.

It's a flawless plan (if you look at it through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses).

But how can you pretend to be in love with someone - and get away with it - in front of the people who know you best?

Brimming with characters you can't help but fall for and off-the-charts chemistry, HAPPY PLACE is Emily Henry's best novel yet.

 

 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 NetGalley and Penguin*

Harriet hasn't told anyone about her break-up with her fiancé, Wyn.

Now she finds herself sharing a room with him at the yearly holiday that Harriet and her friends have, pretending that she and Wyn are still madly in love.

Harriet can get through one week without anyone figuring out something is wrong, right?

She thought she could, but now Harriet isn't so sure.

The premise for this book intrigued me, and I was keen to read it and find out how long Harriet and Wyn could keep up their deception for.

Harriet was a likeable and relatable protagonist. She was funny and I liked her banter with Wyn, who I also liked, as well as their friends. I thought it was really sad how both Harriet and Sabrina's upbringing and relationships with their parents affected their lives. I also found it sad that Harriet and her sister weren't close.

The story is told with chapters set in the past and the present, and I enjoyed finding out how Harriet and Wyn got together.

I could definitely feel the chemistry between Harriet and Wyn, and I was really hoping that they would get back together.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped or itching to read the next chapter. I liked the themes in the book, and I did tear up a few times.

The writing style was easy to follow. This is the third book I've read by the author, and I would happily read another.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Review - Ithaca (The Songs of Penelope, #1) by Claire North

 

 

 

Title: Ithaca (The Songs of Penelope, #1)

Author: Claire North

Pages: 401

Publisher: Orbit

Release Date: 6th September 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom.

Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door.

No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne—not yet. But everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, and Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning, wit, and her trusted circle of maids, can she maintain the tenuous peace needed for the kingdom to survive.

This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca’s shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses— that will change the course of the world.

 Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

My Review:

 

 

When Odysseus left the island of Ithaca seventeen years ago to fight at Troy, he left behind his throne and his family.
Odysseus's wife, Penelope, has done her best to keep the kingdom of Ithaca running, and her people safe, but the palace is full of men who desire the empty throne.
One wrong move could cause war, but there is only so much Penelope can do with her limited resources and allies. Sooner or later, she will have to make a choice, one that could leave Ithaca in turmoil.

Like most people, I knew more about Odysseus than Penelope going into this book. I'm a fan of Greek mythology, so I was interested in finding out more about Penelope and Ithaca.
Penelope was a relatable and likeable protagonist - she was in a very difficult position, and she hadn't seen her husband in nearly two decades, and didn't even know if Odysseus was still alive.
I thought Penelope was smart and I liked her relationships with the maids and Medon, one of the councillors.
The novel was told from the perspective of Hera, which surprised me, but I enjoyed. Hera is one of the main Greek gods that I know the least about, so it was interesting to read her thoughts and reactions to what was happening.
The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but I feel that the book could have been just a little bit shorter.
The writing was easy to follow and I would read another book by the author, but I don't feel gripped or invested enough in the story to continue with the series.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

Review - Fractal Noise (Fractalverse, #0) by Christopher Paolini

 

 

 

 Title: Fractal Noise (Fractalverse, #0)

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 265

Publisher: Tor Books

 Release Date: 16th May 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

July 25th, 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers the Anomaly.

On the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII:a circular pit, 50 kilometers wide.

Its curve not of nature, but design.

Now, a small team must land and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why.

But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space.

For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, for others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe.

Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last.

And the ghosts of their past follow.

 

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 My Review:

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

Alex is a scientist on the spaceship Adamura. After the tragic death of his wife, Alex signed up to do survey work alongside the other crew members.

None of them were expecting to find signs of alien life in the form of a 50 kilometre-wide hole in the surface of an uninhabited planet called Talos VII.

A number of the crew are sent to the surface on a mission to discover more about the strange hole.

Who made the hole?

What is its purpose?

What will the crew find on the surface?

I read and enjoyed To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, which is set in the same universe as this book, so I was looking forward to reading this prequel. I have to admit that I read TSIASOS a few years ago, and couldn't remember much of the plot, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment.

It took me a while to warm to Alex, and I never really felt that I fully connected with him - Alex having lost his wife, and being deep in his grief from the start made me feel sorry for him, but it also made it hard to know him as a character because he practically was only grief.

Out of the other characters, Chen was probably my favourite. I felt sorry for him and found him relatable at times.

The interactions between the character were interesting, especially as the situations got more and more stressful.

The setting of Talos VII was interesting, and the concept of the hole was unique.

The plot was good overall, but while the book wasn't very long it did start to drag a little as it felt like not much was happening. The existential and religious questions were interesting, but did get a little repetitive after a while.

I would read more books set in this universe.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Review - The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield

 

 

 

 

 Title: The Valkyrie

Author: Kate Heartfield

Pages: 315

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Release Date: 30th March 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Kate Heartfield comes a glorious, lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics

Brynhild is a shieldmaiden of the Allfather, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile.

Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.

And in the songs to be sung, there is another Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.

As the legends tell, these names are destined to be lovers, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies…

For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.

 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 Harper Collins UK and NetGalley*

- Note: While I did receive an e-copy to review, I ended up listening to the finished audiobook -

Brynhild is a Valkyrie, chosen by Odin, the All-Father to enforce his will during mortal battles, both saving and killing those Odin chooses.

Then Brynhild is exiled to Midgard, where she must decide how she wants to live her life.

Gudrun is a princess who loves her home and people. Together with her brother, the king, and her mother, Gudrun fights to keep her home safe from the greedy, war-loving Atilla,

Brynhild and Gudrun are brought together by Sigurd, a man who wants to be a hero and a legend.

Can Gudrun save her home?

What will Brynhild decide to do now she is exiled to live a mortal life?

I like Norse mythology, so I was excited to read this book. However, I ended up being a little disappointed.

I found both Brynhild and Gudrun to be likeable protagonists - they both wanted to help people and put the well being of others before their own. However, I didn't feel that I really connected with either of them. Sigurd was an interesting character, but I felt that he could have been fleshed out more.

The story is told from Brynhild and Gudrun's perspectives, and as if they are telling each other what has happened while they were apart. I found this different and didn't dislike it, but I wasn't sucked into the story and I didn't feel invested.

The plot was mixed for me. There were times when I enjoyed it and found what was happening interesting, but there were also times when I was a bit bored, so the pacing could have been better.

The romance wasn't one of my favourites as I couldn't feel the connection between the characters.

The writing was easy to follow.

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

Overall, this was a mixed read.

Review - The Luminaries (The Luminaries, #1) by Susan Dennard

 

Title: The Luminaries (The Luminaries, #1)

Author: Susan Dennard

Pages: 305

Publisher: Daphne Press

Release Date: 1st November 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From NYT bestselling author comes a haunting, high-octane contemporary fantasy for fans of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Winnie Wednesday fights to take the deadly Luminary hunter trials in Hemlock Falls' nightmare-filled forest.

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you…

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town—and the rest of humanity—from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night. Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal—and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie must enlist the help of the one person who can help her Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie's ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.

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 Daphne Press and NetGalley*

Winnie Wednesday lives in Hemlock Falls, a place where nightmarish creatures stalk the forest every night.

The town is protected by the Luminaries, who have treated Winnie and her family like they don't exist since it was revealed that Winnie's father was a traitor.

Winnie is determined to become a Luminary hunter and get her family back into the Luminary fold. To do this, Winnie must survive three trials, and she finds herself asking her ex-best friend, Jay, for help.

Can Winnie pass all three trials? The forest may be more dangerous than anyone realises . . .

This book started out as a series of Twitter polls, some of which I voted in, so I was intrigued to see what this finished version would be like. However, I was also a little hesitant to read this, as the only other book I've picked up by the author I ended up not finishing, so I wasn't sure if that would be the same case with this book. Luckily, I enjoyed this book more.

Winnie was a likeable protagonist - I felt sorry for her and was rooting for her to get what she wanted and become a hunter. One thing that really annoyed me about Winnie was how her teeth were always clicking - I didn't even know that teeth could click, but Winnie's seemed to click nearly every page.

I was angry on Winnie's behalf by the way she, her mother and brother were treated by the Luminaries. I think I would have moved away if I were them, but they were very loyal and stayed.

The concept of the sleeping spirits and them dreaming monsters into existence at night was interesting and something I wanted to find out more about.

The plot was interesting and held my attention throughout, but I wasn't gripped. There were a couple of things that happened that I didn't expect.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

Review - Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

 

 

 Title: Dirty Laundry

Author: Disha Bose

Pages: 309

 Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 24th March 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Keep your friends close and your neighbours closer...

Ciara has it all - a loving husband, well-behaved children and an immaculate home. But behind the filters, her reality is far from what it seems.

Mishti is stuck in a loveless marriage, raising her daughter in a country that is too cold, among children who look nothing like her.

Lauren is mostly happy, despite being judged for letting her kids run naked, wild and free.

Then Ciara is found murdered in her pristine home and suddenly everyone is a suspect.

Hushed whispers, secret rendezvous and bloody betrayals . . .

Everyone has their dirty laundry, but this goes beyond gossip.

This is all-out war.

A deliciously scandalous page-turner about the dark side of suburbia that peels back the layers of Ciara's insta-perfect life to reveal friendships gone rotten, manipulation masquerading as love and families riddled with lies . . .

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 Penguin and NetGalley*

 

 

Influencer Ciara appears to have it all - a wealthy husband, darling children and the devotion of every mother in the town, apart from one.
Lauren is the only mother that is willing to voice her true thoughts and feelings about Ciara, something that isolates her from the other mothers.
Ciara is Mishti's only friend, but Mishti doesn't tell her everything.
Will Mishti and the other mothers see behind Ciara's facade?
Can Ciara maintain her lies or will cracks start to show?

The idea of a book about housewives and their secrets intrigued me, and while I wasn't blown away by what I read, I enjoyed it overall.
The three protagonists of Ciara, Mishti and Lauren were all very different. I found Ciara to be quite unlikeable, but as I found out more about her childhood, I felt a bit sorry for her. I also felt sorry for both Mishti and Lauren - Mishti because she was stuck in a marriage with a man who didn't love her and controlled aspects of her life, and Lauren because of the way she was treated by the other mothers.
The setting of Ireland was different, but I wouldn't have known that Ireland was the setting if not for a couple of comments.
The plot held my attention throughout, but nothing that happened surprised me, and I wasn't itching to pick up the book and find out what happened next.
The writing style was easy to follow.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.