Sunday, June 22, 2025

Review - Gabriel’s Moon by William Boyd

 

 

 


 Title: Gabriel's Moon

Author: William Boyd

Pages: 263

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: 5th September 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 In his most exhilarating novel yet, Britain’s greatest storyteller transports you from the vibrant streets of sixties London to the sun-soaked cobbles of Cadiz and the frosty squares of Warsaw, as an accidental spy is drawn into the shadows of espionage and obsession.

Gabriel Dax is a young man haunted by the memories of a every night, when sleep finally comes, he dreams about his childhood home in flames. His days are spent on the move as an acclaimed travel writer, capturing the changing landscapes in the grip of the Cold War. When he’s offered the chance to interview a political figure, his ambition leads him unwittingly into a web of duplicities and betrayals.

As Gabriel’s reluctant initiation takes hold, he is drawn deeper into the shadows. Falling under the spell of Faith Green, an enigmatic and ruthless MI6 handler, he becomes ‘her spy’, unable to resist her demands. But amid the peril, paranoia and passion consuming Gabriel’s new covert life, it will be the revelations closer to home that change the rest of his story. . .

  

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest. My thanks to Penguin General UK and NetGalley*



Travel writer Gabriel Moon is haunted by the fire that destroyed his childhood home and left his mother dead.

When Gabriel is offered the chance to interview a divisive political figure he accepts, not knowing that his life will never be the same again.

Drawn into a complicated web of international politics and spy agencies, Gabriel will have to do everything he can to come out alive.


I had never read any of the author's previous novels, but I'd been meaning to for a long time. So, when I heard that the author's latest release was about spies in the sixties, I was immediately intrigued.

Gabriel was a protagonist that I never warmed to. From the beginning, I found him to be quite naive and immature at times. My opinion of him only worsened as the book went on, when his behaviour became obsessive and extremely creepy.

The setting of the 1960's was interesting, especially as Gabriel travelled to several different places in Europe and historical events were mentioned.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, and I liked the concept of an average normal person (though it's arguable that Gabriel was that) becoming embroiled in MI6 schemes. However, as the story went on, I found myself enjoying it less and less, mostly due to Gabriel's behaviour. However, I was also never fully absorbed or gripped, and there were some other elements of the book that didn't quite sit right with me as they seemed a bit off.

I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I will give another of the author's books a try in the future.


Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Review - Mysteries of Thorn Manor (#1.5) by Margaret Rogerson

 

 


 

Title: Mysteries of Thorn Manor (#1.5)

Author: Margaret Rogerson

Pages: 188

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Release Date: 17th January 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 In this sequel novella to the Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas must unravel the magical trap keeping them inside Thorn Manor in time for their Midwinter Ball!

Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters looking for the gossip about the city’s most mysterious sorcerer, as well as the woman he’s now chosen to spend all this time with. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping all the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that all of this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…

With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas—along with their new maid Mercy—will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards. Not an easy task when the house is filled with a number of unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.

  

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 Simon & Schuster Children's UK and NetGalley*



Elisabeth Scrivener is settling into life at Thorn Manor with Nathaniel and his demon, Silas.

Then one day, the manor's wards start to go haywire, trapping everyone inside.

Can Elisabeth and Nathaniel work together to restore the wards to normal in time to host the Midwinter Ball?


When I found out that there was a novella sequel/extended epilogue to Sorcery of Thorns, I was excited to read it as I really enjoyed the main book.

It was nice to return to the characters of Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. I really like Elisabeth as a protagonist, and enjoyed her interactions with Nathaniel and Silas, and sorcery.

I found the story to be a little cheesy at times, and I wasn't as absorbed by what happened as I was with the main novel, but this was a fun addition that allowed the reader to briefly return to the world and characters. While it didn't necessarily add much overall to the main story, it also didn't take anything away from it, or try to change anything that had happened.


Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

 

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Review - Tilt by Emma Pattee

 

 

 


Title: Tilt

Author: Emma Pattee

Pages: 233

Publisher: The Borough Press

Release Date: 4th March 2025

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Set over the course of one day, a heart-racing story about a woman facing the unimaginable, determined to find safety.

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, she realizes there’s nothing to do but walk.

Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and kindness: strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. She’s determined to change her life if she can just make it home.

  

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 HarperCollins UK and NetGalley*




Annie is shopping for a crib at IKEA when there is a huge earthquake.

Nine months pregnant and having lost her phone and keys in the initial quake, Annie must somehow find her way to her husband.


The premise of this book intrigued me, because there couldn't really be a worse time for an earthquake, and I wanted to see what would happen to Annie.

The story is told in alternating chapters set in the past, and chapters set in the future. I enjoyed this as it meant I got to find out more about Annie, and what had led her to being where she was when the earthquake happened.

Annie was a relatable protagonist - she had given up her dreams and gotten an office job to pay the bills, and I felt sorry for her.

I would have liked to have explored Annie as a character more, as with this being not a very long novel, it felt to me that only the surface was scratched.

The plot was interesting and held my attention. I liked the mix of chapters in the past and present.

I do have mixed feelings about the ending, but I can see why the author chose to end the novel the way they did.

The writing was very easy to follow, and I almost found myself reading ahead to find out what happened.

I would read another book by the author.


Overall, this was a solid, enjoyable read.