This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s been a much better week. For starters, the weather has been much kinder, so I was able to go for a walk along the beach on Tuesday morning after the school run. That’s where this week’s photos come from. That last pic is of the barbeque area – the Council have left off cropping the grass and it’s currently smothered in daisy blossoms…
I’ve been battling a really low mood, however. My lovely sister-in-law popped down for a visit on Friday and we went for lunch at the local garden centre and wandered around, while I talked out my feelings. I am still coming to terms with my sister’s death. Added to that, now I’m recovering from nearly three years of long covid, I am also trying to work out what I can recover from my old life and what is now permanently beyond me. So it was tremendously helpful to get my sister-in-law’s kindly, wise input.
It’s a Bank Holiday weekend, so the town will be really busy. We haven’t got any special plans as Himself is working on Monday. But if the weather continues to be so lovely and sunny, I might even bother some of the weeds in the garden.
Books I’ve read this week:
Myth-Touched – Book 2 of the Shadows of Eireland series by Joanna Maciejewska In the war, being hunted by mythborn was day to day life. Peacetime had changed things, but myth-touched Kaja never expected to be hunted alongside the mythborn…
With her life hanging by a thread, Kaja had little time to consider Eithne’s offer of aid. Now, free of her affliction, she bears the consequences of that decision. Stuck among her former enemies, caught navigating the nuances of lies and politics, she’s presented with little choice but to accept the out offered by Cathal, leader of the Scáthanna.
But Cathal and his team have troubles of their own as an invisible enemy haunts their steps. If Kaja helps them, she’ll be targeted as well, and when dealing with a faceless enemy, the only way to survive is by carefully choosing allies and tempering trust. Failure could cost their lives.
I am a fan of Joanna’s nuanced characterisation and constant tension as Kaja does her best to begin a new life in amongst her former enemies. 9/10
Murder at Spindle Manor – The Lamplight Murder Mysteries by Morgan Stang For Huntress Isabeau Agarwal, the countryside inn is the last stop in a deadly hunt. Armed with gaslamp and guns, she tracks an insidious beast that wears the skin of its victims, mimicking them perfectly. Ten guests reside within Spindle Manor tonight, and the creature could be any one of them. Confined by a torrential thunderstorm and running out of time, Isabeau has until morning to discover the liar, or none of them—including her—will make it out alive.
But her inhuman quarry isn’t the only threat residing in Spindle Manor.
Gunshots.
A slammed door.
A dead body.
Someone has been killed, and a hunt turns into a murder investigation. Now with two mysteries at her feet and more piling up, Isabeau must navigate a night filled with lies and deception. In a world of seances and specters, mesmers and monsters, the unexpected is hiding around every corner, and every move may be her last. By a happy accident, just as I was finishing this one – I learnt that it had won this year’s SPFBO competition. And I can see why. With a committed and plucky heroine, a nicely twisty plot and some quirky humour that prevents some of the gorier events turning too bleak, it was difficult to put this one down. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Space Carrier Avalon – Book 1 of the Castle Federation series by Glynn Stewart The Fleet’s Old Lady – out for one last dance
Avalon was the flagship of the Castle Federation in the last war, now twenty years past. The first of the deep space carriers, no other warship in the fleet holds as many honors or has recorded as many kills. No other warship in the fleet is as old.
Accepting the inevitable, the Federation Space Navy has decided to refit her and send her on a tour of the frontier, showing the flag to their allies and enemies as a reminder of her glory – and then decommission her for good. But Avalon has been a backwater posting for ten years – and has problems a mere refit can’t fix. The systems along her planned tour have been seeing pirates for the first time in decades, and there are rumblings of Commonwealth scouting ships all along the border. It may be Avalon’s final tour – but it looks to be anything but quiet! Some of the characters are a bit two-dimensional and occasionally the dialogue is a tad clunky – but I’ll forgive Stewart a lot for the unexpected twists and the gripping space battles. There is also a wealth of technical detail regarding spaceships, enough to gladden the heart of any hard sci fi fan. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Stone Cold Magic – Book 1 of the Ella Grey series by Jayne Faith Something is eating Ella’s soul . . .
Demon patrol officer Ella Grey was pronounced dead after an accident on the job. Eighteen minutes later she woke up on a gurney bound for the morgue. But she didn’t return to the living alone. The soul of a reaper followed her back from the grave, and it’s not just along for the ride.
The reaper gives her glimpses of the brother she feared was dead, but it’s also trying to use her for its morbid work. The reaper could be her biggest ally in her battle for her brother, if it doesn’t eat her soul first. I was impressed by the quality of the writing in this urban fantasy adventure, featuring resurrected Ella Grey. So I’m definitely going to be getting hold of the next book in this series. 9/10
This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s been a truly horrendous week on almost every level. Except for the books I’ve read and the fact that the writing seems to be going well. Thank goodness for those moments of escape. Enough said.
As for the weather, it continues to be cold – the daytime temperatures today are forecast to be in the low fifties, with rain. And the coming week is due to continue wet, chilly and windy. Oh joy.
Books I’ve read this week:
House of Open Wounds – Book 2 of The Tyrant Philosophers series by Adrian Tchaikovsky City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world. As their legions scour the world of superstition with the bright flame of reason, so they deliver a mountain of ragged, holed and scorched flesh to the field hospital tents just behind the frontline.
Which is where Yasnic, one-time priest, healer and rebel, finds himself. Reprieved from the gallows and sent to war clutching a box of orphan Gods, he has been sequestered to a particularity unorthodox medical unit.
Led by ‘the Butcher’, an ogre of a man who’s a dab hand with a bone-saw and an alchemical tincture, the unit’s motley crew of conscripts, healers and orderlies are no strangers to the horrors of war. Their’s is an unspeakable trade: elbow-deep in gore they have a first-hand view of the suffering caused by flesh-rending monsters, arcane magical weaponry and embittered enemy soldiers.
Entrusted – for now – with saving lives deemed otherwise un-saveable, the field hospital’s crew face a precarious existence. Their work with unapproved magic, necromancy, demonology and Yansic’s thoroughly illicit Gods could lead to the unit being disbanded, arrested or worse. Beset by enemies within and without, the last thing anyone needs is a miracle. Stormingly good read – and not as bleak as I’d feared, this one has the vibe of M*A*S*H, which I absolutely loved watching, back in the day. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – The Prefect – Prefect Dreyfus Emergency series by Alastair Reynolds Tom Dreyfus is a Prefect, a law enforcement officer with the Panoply. His beat is the multifaceted utopian society of the Glitter Band, that vast swirl of space habitats orbiting the planet Yellowstone, the teeming hub of a human interstellar empire spanning many worlds. His current case: investigating a murderous attack against one of the habitats that left 900 people dead, a crime that appalls even a hardened cop like Dreyfus.
But then his investigation uncovers something far more serious than mass slaughter—a covert plot by an enigmatic entity who seeks nothing less than total control of the Glitter Band. Before long, the Panoply detectives are fighting against something worse than tyranny, in a struggle that will lead to more devastation and more death. And Dreyfus will discover that to save what is precious, you may have to destroy it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one – the only reason that it didn’t get a solid 10 is that the pacing in places is a tad slow. But Tom is a very sympathetic protagonist and the lead-up to this terrible plot with a background of some impressive tech is gripping and thoroughly entertaining. I’ll be tracking down the other books in this sci fi thriller series. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – One Bad Witch – Book 6 of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series boxed set by Danielle Garrett Following six months of intense training under some of the country’s most skilled potion masters, Holly’s head is full to the brim.
When she’s offered a new assignment with the Supernatural Protection Agency, she jumps at the chance to take her newfound skills out of the workshop and into the real world. What she didn’t expect was to wind up tailing a suspected werewolf killer right in her own backyard. Literally.
When another werewolf turns up dead, Holly and her roommates are locked in a race against time and the killer might be even closer than they think. After a couple of quite intense reads, I wanted something a bit lighter – and so I returned to this urban fantasy world which I now know well and joined Holly for yet another magic-filled adventure. As ever, enjoyable with plenty of lighter moments in among the rising body count. 8/10
This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
The second week of the Easter holidays has just slipped by and I don’t know where the days have gone. Monday was a milestone for me. I accepted an invitation to read a selection of my writing at the monthly Arts evening at The Victoria Institute in Arundel. Before I became ill, I regularly stood up in front of audiences to either read my work, or give a talk on various aspects of writing. But this was the first time I’d faced an audience since the end of 2019, given we went into lockdown in early 2020. So it was a very big deal for me. I wasn’t even sure that I’d enjoy performing anymore, given I’m still so diminished compared to the person I used to be. In the event, the venue was cosy and welcoming and the audience friendly and responsive. It was also wonderful to be surrounded by other creatives in an evening of poetry, comedy, and a monologue interspersed with excellent live music and I came home buzzing. The photo is the outside of the building in Arundel – it’s an absolute warren inside.
Sadly, that meant I was very, very tired on Tuesday and Wednesday and had to take it easy until I recovered my energy levels. Having Ethan home was lovely and on Thursday he and I joined in a painting day that Himself had organised with his guitar teacher, who is also a very keen gamer. I painted a few of the Wood Elves I used to game with when we played Warhammer Fantasy, but I had to stop after a couple of hours as my eyes grew blurry. The day ended with a delightful board game that John brought along called The Grand Carnival, where each player has to make a fairground and add attractions and guests. We all joined in and had a lovely time. Friday saw Ethan returning to uni and tomorrow Oscar returns to school.
Meanwhile the evenings are drawing out and we’ve had a couple of sunny days, although everywhere is still very wet and Littlehampton made the national news on Wednesday when the River Arun flooded the homes and businesses along Rope Walk on the west bank due to the spring tides and the aftermath of a storm that brought onshore winds. It doesn’t help that river levels are so very high/, anyway.
Books I’ve read this week: The Witchwood Knot – Book 1 of the Victorian Faerie series by Olivia Atwater The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess intends to steal him back.
Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust? I thoroughly enjoyed this Victorian gothic fantasy, complete with haunted house and family curse. Winnie makes a particularly sympathetic protagonist. 9/10
The Lucky Starman – Book 3 of the Leif the Lucky series by Colin Alexander Is Leif really lucky? Stranded in orbit, viewing a destroyed civilization on Earth through the screens of a starship almost out of fuel and food, he doesn’t feel that way. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. As the starship Dauntless returns from a successful mission to the planet called Heaven, Earth holds no attractions for Exoplanetary Scout Leif Grettison. He wants only to complete the mission and leave for another star, along with ace pilot Yang Yong. In fact, he would be happy spending the rest of his life flying the starways with her. But they and the rest of the ship’s skeleton crew awaken from hibernation to find Earth’s solar system dark and silent—no signals, no responses to their transmissions. When they make orbit, the magnitude of the disaster becomes clear.
An apocalyptic war has killed billions and destroyed every last source of power and tech that 22nd-Century humans relied on to survive. Getting down to Earth is only the beginning of Leif’s problems. Those few who survived the apocalypse are still divided, fighting over what’s left. The disastrous re-entry to Earth leaves him with no resources or allies. He lands in the middle of a makeshift family that needs him more than he’s comfortable with and hears stories—even nursery rhymes—that speak of a lucky starman. For once, he’s the only person with tech—but if he’s caught using it, they might kill him. Can a man back from the stars end the warfare on Earth, or will he make it worse? Can he save a family that might become his? Is he everyone’s lucky starman? As I don’t read blurbs, the apocalyptic tone in this third book in the series caught me by surprise. Leif is a sympathetic character, whose overwhelming talent is for surviving in tricky situations when those around him tend to die… He’s not sure whether that makes him all that lucky and I tend to agree. Nonetheless, this one had me turning the pages to find out what happens next and ended on a doozy of the cliff-hanger that will definitely have me getting hold of the next book in the series. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She’s worked with the revered crime writer for years, and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s.
As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It’s just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway…. But Conway’s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder. Magpie Murders is also a successful TV drama that I thoroughly enjoyed. But listening to this entertaining story-within-a-story, I found the book far more engrossing than the TV version. If you enjoy a really twisty plot told within the conventions of the golden age of crime aka Agatha Christie, then go hunting for this one. The audiobook version is superb, given the quality of the narration by Samantha Bond and Alan Corduner. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – Magic Burns – Book 2 of the Katie Daniels series by Ilona Andrews Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…
Version 1.0.0
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.
When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive… I enjoyed the first book in this series, but wasn’t sure whether to continue or not until one of my book-blogging buddies assured me that this series goes on steadily getting better. This slice of Katie’s adventures certainly is brimful of action, but I also like that she looks into her future and isn’t thrilled at the thought of growing older and alone. I will be getting the next book in this series in due course. 8/10
Sinister Magic – Book 1 of Death Before Dragons series by Lindsay Buroker I’m Val Thorvald, and I’m an assassin.
When magical bad guys hurt people, I take care of them. Permanently. This doesn’t make me popular with the rest of the magical community—as you can tell from the numerous break-ins and assassination attempts I’ve endured over the years. But thanks to my half-elven blood, a powerful sword named Chopper, and a telepathic tiger with an attitude, I’ve always been able to handle my problems with aplomb. Maybe some cursing and swearing, too, but definitely aplomb.
That changes when my boss is afflicted with a mysterious disease, a government agent starts investigating me, and a godforsaken dragon shows up in the middle of my latest job. I’ve taken down vampires, zombies, and ogres, but dragons are way, way more powerful. And it doesn’t look like this one is going to like me.
Worse than that, he wants to use his magic to compel me to do his bidding, as if I’m some weak-minded minion. That’s not going to happen. I’d die before being some dragon’s slave. But if I can’t figure out a way to avoid him, save my boss, and get rid of the government spook, I’m screwed. Or dead. Or screwed and dead. And that’s never comfortable. I always enjoy Buroker’s mix of snarky humour, action and engaging protagonists. Val is definitely one of the more bloodthirsty characters and could so easily have been just another sword-swinging gal who blends in with the crowd of similar-sounding heroines. She doesn’t. Her gutsy decision to stay away from her daughter and her lumpy relationship with her mother makes her stand out, for starters. I appreciate Buroker’s stance that if you live a violent, dangerous life there are consequences. Especially if magic is involved. I will definitely be reading more of Val’s adventures in due course – a very strong start to the series. 9/10
I loved Atwater’s Half a Soul – see my review – to the extent that I also tracked down the sequel, Ten Thousand Stitches, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. So when I spotted that this one was still on the Netgalley dashboard, despite The Witchwood Knot having been released back in November 2023, I immediately requested it. Unfortunately, circumstances conspired against my reading it as quickly as I’d intended. Nevertheless, I’ve now managed to get to it…
BLURB: Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?
REVIEW: Atwater grabbed me from the first page and wouldn’t let go in this Victorian gothic fantasy, complete with haunted house and family curse. Atwater herself provides a trigger warning for child kidnapping and historical child grooming, so I think it’s only fair to pass that warning on.
I love the character of Winnie, whose strong character pings off the page from the opening lines. She is brave, determined and clever, but with her own vulnerabilities that prevent her from becoming a Mary Sue. Her spiky relationship with the sharp-edged Mr Quincy is enjoyable and well done, as it gives the reader opportunities to learn a lot more about both characters, who begin to lower their barriers as they start to work together. I also enjoyed their developing friendship which didn’t hold up the pace.
Several enjoyable revelations along the way had me reading far later than I should to discover what happened next. One of the issues I often have with this sub-genre is that the tension created and the dreadful secrets hinted at can fall flat once we reach the denouement. This proved not to be a problem when all was revealed in this instance. I also liked the fact that the child who Winnie is battling to save isn’t a sweet little victim, but a snooty brat who is far too entitled for someone of his age. All in all, this is a thoroughly satisfying read I highly recommend for those who enjoy a Victorian gothic tale, complete with some nicely spooky paranormal twists. While I obtained an arc of The Witchwood Knot from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 9/10
This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s been a tough week. February is my least favourite month, anyway – it tends to be cold and gloomy, with the sense that the winter has dragged on forever. Add the fact that I’m now coping with the grief of losing my sister right at the end of 2023 and still being very run down after recently going down with covid again – it’s been grim.
No photos this week, I’m afraid. I simply haven’t been out of the house except for the school run and a couple of shopping trips. And even then, I’ve found it difficult to actually get out. I’m hoping that once the weather brightens up, so will my mood.
On the plus side – thank you so much for all your kind comments and sympathy. It’s been much appreciated – I keep hearing about the toxic effect of social media on the News, but I’m blessed to be part of a lovely community of kindly, caring people who are linked by our love of books. I’ve even received a wonderful care package of pens, bookmarks and a lovely uplifting little cross with a very comforting message by a fabulous blogging friend. It has provided a beacon of light at a dark time for me and my family.
I’ve also had a lovely reading week – and as you can see below, I’ve been doing a great deal of listening and reading as it has provided a much-needed escape. I simply don’t know how non-readers cope when Life doesn’t play fair – thank goodness for books and their lovely readers!
Books I’ve read this last week: Wanderer’s Escape – Book 1 of the Wanderer’s Odyssey boxed set by Simon Goodson Jess was born a prisoner, grew up a prisoner and at sixteen knew he would die a prisoner. When his turn comes to try to break through the traps protecting a spaceship it seems his day to die has come. The ship, and others like it, have already claimed the lives of hundreds of prisoners.
Instead he manages to avoid the traps and gain access to the ship with two other prisoners, beginning a frantic flight to freedom. Soon Jess finds himself loose in a brutal universe ruled by the Empire and riddled with pirates, slave traders and worse. Can Jess manage to learn the rules of the universe and the capabilities of the ship he has stolen in time to stay alive? I quite enjoyed this one. While the characters aren’t particularly complex, the plot provides plenty of twists and the pace is fast with plenty of action. I bonded sufficiently with the main protagonists that I’m going to continue reading this series. 7/10
AUDIOBOOK – Don’t Stop Believing – Book 3 of the Midlife Mulligan series by Eve Langlais I had it all. Awesome, blossoming business. A cute boyfriend who gave me butterflies. My kids living at home and reconnecting with me. Plus, I was a witch. There, I said it out loud. I’m a sorceress who can do magic. Not bad for a woman my age. I should have known better to get so cocky.
The other shoe dropped, bounced, and hit me in the face, then bounced again and whacked me in the shin. It proceeded to ricochet once more and— What should have been the most amazing night turns into a disaster. I’m crushed, in more ways than one.
When I recover, it’s to find my reality has shifted. My cat can speak. Some of the townsfolk appear to be possessed by demons, and I’m supposed to be sacrificed to free magic. Seriously? I just wanted my damned happily ever after. And I will fight to get it. I’ll be honest, there were times during this series when I wanted to shake Naomi until her teeth rattled. But when it came to the crunch and everything turned upside down, she develops a spine and really fights for what she wants. The plot twist is a doozy – rarely has a long-running story been so completely turned on its head. It seems that readers fall into two camps – those that simply cannot accept it, or those that love it. I happen to fall into the latter camp and this is my favourite book of the series by far. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – Dragon Tear – Book 5 of The Agents of the Crown series by Lindsay Buroker Now that Jev is no longer obligated to marry a manipulative noblewoman, Zenia can finally pursue a relationship with him. But there’s something else she must deal with first. She’s learned that the magical dragon-tear gem she wears around her neck is linked to a living dragon, one that is being held prisoner and tortured.
Zenia owes her life several times over to the creature. She must set aside personal desires and lead a team to the distant and dangerous continent where the dragon is imprisoned. But it took someone – or something – very powerful to capture such a great creature in the first place. Zenia, Jev, and their friends may not have the magic or might necessary to free their scaled ally. If they fail, the dragon will be enslaved forever by a cruel master, and Zenia and Jev may never see their homeland again. A real sense of menace pervades the quest to free the dragon in the final instalment of this entertaining series. As a result, I tore through it to ensure that Zenia manages to survive to live the life she so richly deserves. Once again, a pleasing balance of action and banter with plenty of plot twists in this swords and sorcery adventure that makes Buroker’s writing so very readable and morish. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Illuminations by T. Kingfisher Rosa Mandolini knows in her heart that her family are the greatest painters of magical illuminations in the city. But the eccentric Studio Mandolini has fallen on hard times and the future is no longer certain.
While trying to help her family, Rosa discovers a strange magical box protected by a painted crow. But when she finds a way to open the box, she accidentally releases the Scarling, a vicious monster determined to destroy the Mandolini family at any cost.
With the aid of her former best friend and a painted crow named Payne, it’s up to Rosa to stop the Scarling before it unmakes the magical paintings that keep the city running, and hopefully save her family in the process! This is apparently a middle-grade read. But Kingfisher’s adventures are far too good to be devoured by only the youngsters among us. This story was a thumping good listen and had me staying up far later than I should to hear the outcome. Very highly recommended. 10/10
Echoes of the Past – Book 2 of the Wanderer’s Odyssey boxed set by Simon Goodson Freedom was only the start. The crew of the Wanderer face ever greater challenges as their journey continues. Knowing the Empire will hunt them down Jess and the others must seek help from another source.
Turning to the criminal underworld seems like their only option, but it soon threatens to end in disaster. Especially when past events return to haunt the present.
Will even the incredible Wanderer be enough to keep Jess, and those he cares about, safe? This is the second book in this boxed set that I read this week to vary my rather urban fantasy-rich diet. I enjoyed this adventure even more than the first book – Goodson is nifty at throwing in unexpected plot twists and this time around there is a bit more depth to the characterisation. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Cetaganda – Book 9 of the Miles Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold When the Cetagandan empress dies, Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan are sent to Cetaganda for her funeral as diplomatic representatives of Barrayar. Upon arrival, the two men are inexplicably attacked by a servant of the late empress. When the same servant turns up dead the next day, Miles and Ivan find themselves in the middle of a mystery.
Miles tries to play detective in a strange, complicated, and deceptively alien culture, while lascivious Ivan manages to get himself involved with several noble females at the same time, a diplomatic no-no of the first order. As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that it’s up to Miles to save the empire. This one popped up on the Audible Catalogue Plus listings and as anything Lois writes is worth listening to, I snapped it up and thoroughly enjoyed listening to disaster-magnet Miles getting entangled in this diplomatic murder mystery. 9/10
Magic Bites – Book 1 of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way… I’d read this one way back in 2020 – but I thoroughly enjoyed the reread and have now got hold of the second book in the series. Just as well as it ends on something of a cliffhanger. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Witch Way Home – Book 4 of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery Boxed set by Danielle Garrett Life on magical parole can be a real witch… I’ve got a final shot at freedom, but when my strongest ally is found murdered, everything is on the line—including my own life.
With my rag-tag band of supernatural friends in tow, I have to launch my biggest—and most dangerous—investigation yet. I’ve got to stop the killer without setting off the SPA’s alarms or else I can kiss my last chance goodbye. This adventure, featuring impulsive and strong-minded Holly Bolt, had me thoroughly rooting for her. And when she suffers a major setback at the hands of a very unfair system, I was highly indignant on her behalf – I’ve also got a soft spot for her tabby cat Boots. So I’m delighted to have the next two books in this entertaining series. 9/10
The Holy Terrors – Book 1 of the Holy Terrors series by Simon R Green Welcome to Spooky Time, the hit TV ghost-hunting show where the horror is scripted . . . and the ratings are declining rapidly. What better way to up the stakes – and boost the viewership – than by locking a select group of Z-list celebrities up for the night in The Most Haunted Hall in England (TM) and live-streaming the ‘terrifying’ results?
Soon Alistair, a newly appointed Bishop, actress Diana, medium Leslie, comedian Toby and celebrity chef Indira are trapped inside Stonehaven town hall, along with June, the host and producer of the show. The group tries to settle in and put on a good show, but then strange things start happening in their hall of horrors.
What is it about this place – and why is the TV crew outside not responding? Are they even on air? Logical Alistair attempts to keep the group’s fears at bay and rationalise the odd events, but there are things that just can’t be explained within reason . . . Can he stop a cold-blooded would-be killer – even if it’s come from beyond the grave? I’m a solid fan of this author and his mix of humour and creepiness, so was delighted to get hold of this arc of a new series. Review to follow.
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby Make them laugh, and they’re yours forever . . .
Barbara Parker is Miss Blackpool of 1964, but she doesn’t want to be a beauty queen. She wants to make people laugh.
So she leaves her hometown behind, takes herself to London, and overnight she becomes the lead in a new BBC comedy, Sophie Straw: charming, gorgeous, destined to win the nation’s hearts. I’ll be honest – this one would never have been a book that I’d have picked up. But Himself got hold of it. If you’ve ever been nostalgic for the era that produced such TV sitcoms as The Likely Lads and Til Death Us Do Part, then this is recommended reading. Both funny and poignant, I loved it. 9/10
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series – see my review. So was delighted to be able to be approved for the second instalment in Emily’s fae adventures – would it be as enjoyable and entertaining as the first offering?
BLURB: When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby. Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans. But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
REVIEW: It’s always a bit tricky reading the second book in a series when I’ve so thoroughly enjoyed the first one. When it’s by a favourite author, I can generally rely on the quality and know I’m going to enjoy it – but when it’s by someone whose writing I don’t know all that well, it can be a tad disappointing. Not bad, you understand – but just not as marvellous. I’m glad to say this wasn’t the dynamic with this offering.
I found Emily far more approachable in this slice of her adventures. Partly because I already know that she’s a thoroughly cagey character, who tends to hold people at arm’s length. And partly because this time around, we see her genuine affection for Brambley and increasing concern as the danger to him becomes steadily more lethal.
There is fascinating tension among the group exploring the Alps with a view to finding a back door into the realm ruled by Brambley’s mother. In addition to Emily and Brambley, there is also Emily’s niece and the head of her department of Faerie Studies. If you’ve read the first book, it won’t come as a surprise to discover that Emily’s relationship with her superior is a tad rocky – she finds him overly pompous and patronising. While her niece’s bouncy eagerness to enthuse volubly on every aspect of their journey has Emily gritting her teeth with annoyance. These annoyances could so easily have devolved into a rather toxic mix of back-biting and quarrelling that displayed the party at their worst. Instead, Fawcett portrays the differences within the group with a warmth and humour that provides some tension, without it ever becoming too nasty or unpleasant. Emily is rather shaken to realise that her niece is very good at befriending the local villagers – which becomes increasingly important in light of their discoveries.
This leads me onto another great strength of the writing. Fawcett is extremely good at depicting the otherness of the fae she encounters. The constant strangeness and the sense of danger leaps off the page – especially during Emily’s sojourn in a realm where she’s no business being. The tension of living under those conditions is extremely well depicted and makes for a riveting section of the book. All in all, this was a great page-turner and stands out among the plethora of books written about the fae as a classy, well written read. While it would be a huge shame not to read the first book before tucking into this offering – I think you could pick it up without any undue floundering if you haven’t read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies. While I obtained an arc of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 10/10
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week’s Can’t-Wait offering:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands – Book 2 of the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett – release date – 18th January
#faerie adventure #feisty heroine
BLURB:When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.
And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, so was delighted to see this second book was available. And even more delighted to get hold of a copy. Anyone else tucking into this offering?
This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
The less said about this month to date, the better… I’m still battling with my energy levels thanks to a major long covid relapse and spending more time in bed than out of it. Which is depressing and frustrating. Only I can’t be frustrated or depressed, because that just makes the general fatigue worse. I hope that I’m finally recovering, though I won’t say that too loudly, because every time I’ve done so this month – I’ve woken up feeling sick, giddy and utterly exhausted.
The pics this week were taken at Highdown Gardens in August. I haven’t been anywhere recently, so I thought it would be nice to revisit some of the lovely places I managed to get to earlier in the year and recall that slice of summer magic. I was surprised to see the wasps’ nest and I’ve no idea what those purple berries are called – but they were every bit as vivid as the pic suggests. We’re so lucky to live in such a pretty part of the country and I’m looking forward to being well enough to go for a walk along the beach again. You won’t be surprised to hear that I’ve got through a fair few books in the last fortnight, while marooned in bed. Thank goodness I’m a reader😊.
Books I’ve read this last fortnight:
Hop Scot – Book 6 of the Last Ditch Mystery series by Catriona McPherson Lexy Campbell is long overdue a trip to Scotland to see her parents, and an unexpected death in the extended Last Ditch Motel family makes Christmas in a bungalow in Dundee with nine others seem almost irresistible. But when Lexy and the Last Ditch crew hop across the Atlantic, there’s a change of plan and they’re whisked off to Mistletoe Hall in the pretty village of Yule, where the surprises continue. The news that a man disappeared from the crumbling pile sixty years ago, along with an unsettling discovery in the bricked-up basement, means that Todd, Kathi and Lexy – Trinity for Trouble – must solve another murder.
Deadly secrets, snow, berry rustlers, ornithology, skeletons and Christmas Eve in the booze aisle at Tesco: the Last Ditch crew won’t forget their Scottish holiday in a hurry! This is a joy… Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – The Magic of Recluce – Book 1 of the Saga of Recluce series by L.E. Modesitt Jr. Young Lerris is dissatisfied with his life and trade, and yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. But in Recluce a change in circumstances means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond Recluce, with the aim of learning how the world works and what his place in it might be. Many do not survive. Lerris chooses dangergeld.
When Lerris is sent into intensive training for his quest, it soon becomes clear that he has a natural talent for magic. And he will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked. Though it goes against all of his instincts, Lerris must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos. I read the printed edition back when Noah was knee-high to a hen and thoroughly enjoyed it. So I wondered if I’d like this one as much when listening to this adventure, instead. It was every bit as much fun and reminded me all over again why I became such a huge fan of the fantasy genre. 9/10
Adversary – Book 5 of the Hive Minds series by Janet Edwards Being a telepath means being a warrior. Eighteen-year-old Amber is the youngest of the five telepaths who protect the hundred million citizens of one of the great hive cities of twenty-sixth century Earth. As her city celebrates the start of a New Year, one of the other telepaths must stop work to have lifesaving surgery.
Amber is already worried how she and her unit will cope with the increased workload, but then she finds herself facing twin enemies as well. Inside her city, Keith takes advantage of his increasingly powerful position as one of only four working telepaths. Outside her city, Hive Genex sends the devious Adversary Aura to lead their defence against charges of attempting to kidnap Amber. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest addition to the Hive Mind series. Edwards’ writing always has an upbeat energy, which I’m really appreciating at present. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Shadow Hunter – Book 1 of the Rosie O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar and Grill series by B.R. Kingsolver When my magic manifested at puberty, my parents sold me to the Illuminati. They trained me as an assassin, spy, and thief. But when they sent me to steal a magical artifact that reveals Truth in all things, I discovered that I was working for the Dark and not the Light. The Illuminati trained me well, and paid the ultimate price for their deception.
Thousands of miles away, I landed a job in a quirky little bar. But the scattered remnants of the Order still strive for world domination, and no one leaves the Illuminati alive. This one popped up on the Plus Catalogue, so I decided to have a go as I’m particularly enjoying urban fantasy tales featuring plucky young women with a barbed sense of humour. And I ended up a fan of Kingsolver’s writing. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – A Fire at the Exhibition – Book 10 of the Lady Hardcastle Series by T.E. Kinsey May 1912. After the previous year’s deadly heatwave, it’s been an uneventful spring in Littleton Cotterell. Though for Lady Hardcastle and her fiercely loyal lady’s maid Flo, at least there are the provincial delights of the village’s inaugural art exhibition—and bicycle race—to look forward to. But at the exhibition opening, there’s a panicked shout of ‘Fire!’ In the confusion, the main attraction—an extremely expensive book—is stolen from under everyone’s nose, as is a valuable painting lent by Sir Hector Farley-Stroud.
Then the race, which starts as a charming day out, ends in a shocking death. And to top it all off, the Farley-Strouds reveal they’re in debt and might lose their house. The sleuthing duo soon find themselves torn between a murder investigation, an art theft mystery, and trying to help their pals. All with a suspicious figure from Flo’s past, a supercilious insurance investigator, and a pair of rather bizarre treasure hunters on the loose… I love this series, so was very cheered to see this latest addition. I was able to lose myself in a long-gone time, as Lady H and Flo try to discover what is going on. As ever, it’s the relationship between the two women that stands out for me. 9/10
Legends & Lattes – Book 1 of the Legends & Lattes series by Travis After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed. After reading and thoroughly enjoying Bookshops and Bonedust – I decided I had to tuck into this offering. And it’s every bit as charming and engrossing as the hype claims. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – City of Bones by Martha Wells Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working on the edge of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors and to support Sagai’s family. When Khat is hired to find relics believed to be part of one of the Ancients’ arcane engines, they are both reluctant to become involved. But the request comes from the Warders, powerful mages who serve Charisat’s Elector.
Khat soon discovers that the deadly politics of Charisat’s upper tiers aren’t the only danger. The relics the Warders want are the key to an Ancient magic of unknown power, and, as all the inhabitants of Charisat know, no one understands the Ancients’ magic. I’m especially fond of a Sand & Sorcery tale – there’s always something bit more enthralling about magic with its sand between its toes… And this offering was no exception. Perhaps not quite as wonderfully written as the fabulous Ile-Rien series, but a cracking read nonetheless. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Wish List – Book 2 of the How To Be the Best Damn Faery Godmother in the World (or Die Trying) series by Helen Harper You don’t have to be mad to work at the Office of Faery Godmothers. But you do have to be magic.
Saffron Sawyer is a faery on a mission. She may no longer have the same rose-tinted spectacles about her job as she once did, but she’s still determined to be the best faery godmother that there is. And when she’s given the role as leader of a taskforce designed to hunt down the elusive trolls, she knows it’s her time to step up and be counted.
Juggling her new responsibilities while dealing with difficult clients isn’t easy, however. Danger lurks around every corner – and Jasper, the handsome and powerful Devil’s Advocate, is continually looming over her shoulder in the office.
Can Saffron prove her worth to the world of magic? Or will she make one mistake too many and find herself in mortal danger? I do love Harper’s slightly madcap heroines. And Saffron is a prime example. I hope the misunderstanding between herself and the Devil’s Advocate is quickly sorted out, though. I’m finding it a tad annoying. Other than that, a lovely listen that had me grinning. 8/10
Terminal Alliance – Book 1 of the Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse series by Jim C. Hines When the Krakau came to Earth, they planned to invite humanity into a growing alliance of sentient species. This would have worked out better for all involved if they hadn’t arrived after a mutated plague wiped out half the planet, turned the rest into shambling, near-unstoppable animals, and basically destroyed human civilization. You know—your standard apocalypse.
The Krakau’s first impulse was to turn their ships around and go home. After all, it’s hard to establish diplomatic relations with mindless savages who eat your diplomats. Their second impulse was to try to fix us. A century later, human beings might not be what they once were, but at least they’re no longer trying to eat everyone. Mostly.
Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos is surprisingly bright (for a human). As a Lieutenant on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish, she’s in charge of the Shipboard Hygiene and Sanitation team. When a bioweapon attack by an alien race wipes out the Krakau command crew and reverts the rest of the humans to their feral state, only Mops and her team are left with their minds intact. Escaping the attacking aliens—not to mention her shambling crewmates—is only the beginning. Sure, Mops and her assortment of space janitors and plumbers can clean the ship, but flying the damn thing is another matter. As they struggle to keep the Pufferfish functioning and find a cure for their crew, they stumble onto a conspiracy that could threaten the entire alliance. I’m fussy about space opera adventures. It’s the genre I DNF more frequently than any other. And I’m a tad allergic to humorous space opera. But this is both funny and clever and I’ll definitely be reading more of this series. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley Somewhere on the outer rim of the universe, a mass of decaying world-ships known as the Legion is traveling in the seams between the stars. For generations, a war for control of the Legion has been waged, with no clear resolution. As worlds continue to die, a desperate plan is put into motion.
Zan wakes with no memory, prisoner of a people who say they are her family. She is told she is their salvation – the only person capable of boarding the Mokshi, a world-ship with the power to leave the Legion. But Zan’s new family is not the only one desperate to gain control of the prized ship. Zan finds that she must choose sides in a genocidal campaign that will take her from the edges of the Legion’s gravity well to the very belly of the world.
Zan will soon learn that she carries the seeds of the Legion’s destruction – and its possible salvation. But can she and her ragtag band of followers survive the horrors of the Legion and its people long enough to deliver it? I’ll be honest – I’d forgotten that generally me and Hurley don’t get along. But listening to this brutal and frankly gross quest adventure just made me grateful that I was in my own snuggly bed, instead of wading through stuff (don’t ask!). 8/10
Calico by Lee Goldberg There’s a saying in Barstow, California, a decaying city in the scorching Mojave desert . . .
The Interstate here only goes in one direction: Away.
But it’s the only place where ex-LAPD detective Beth McDade, after a staggering fall from grace, could get another badge . . . and a shot at redemption. Over a century ago, and just a few miles further into the bleak landscape, a desperate stranger ended up in Calico, a struggling mining town, also hoping for a second chance. His fate, all those years ago, and hers today are linked when Beth investigates an old skeleton dug up in a shallow, sandy grave . . . and also tries to identity a vagrant run-over by a distracted motorhome driver during a lightning storm.
Every disturbing clue she finds, every shocking discovery she makes, force Beth to confront her own troubled past—and a past that’s not her own—until it all smashes together in a revelation that could change the world. This was an intriguing read that I requested on the spur of the moment. Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – Night Stalker – Book 2 of the Rosie O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar and Grill series by B.R. Kingsolver All I want is to pay the rent and find a boyfriend. But an insane vampire thinks I hold the key to his takeover of the city, and I have a new stalker.
At least for now, I’ve dodged the Illuminati’s Hunters, but life is still a little too challenging. Rival vampire lords want to use me against each other, and the mysterious members of the Columbia Club are offering bounties for vampires and werewolves. I’m lucky that the gang at Rosie’s has my back, because I’m going to need them. I felt the need for more urban fantasy goodness in my life. After finishing listening to The Stars Are Legion the next slice of Erin’s life was calling to me. This book brought up more problems and risks for our plucky heroine to face, as well as plenty of action. 9/10
This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s not been a great week. I ended up back in bed with a significant relapse of my long covid exhaustion. It started out with a couple of days where I was too tired to get out of bed, interspersed with some good days during the previous week. But I took it that on the good days, I was able to resume my general level of activity – and that was a major misstep. I can’t. So I now need to wind everything back and take it a lot easier until I’ve built up more resilience. Which is so very annoying. Especially as this last week, Himself had his annual winter holiday and we couldn’t go anywhere or do anything nice, because I was stuck in bed. No wonder we’re both feeling really fed up and rather sorry for ourselves! In the middle of all this, poor Oscar had his fourteenth birthday. He didn’t want a cake, so we got him some chocolate muffins as a treat. Though he hasn’t been all that well this week, either…
Over the last fortnight, the weather has been tempestuous – literally. The week before last, we were battered by torrential rain and stormforce winds. To the extent that many schools along the south coast were shut the previous Thursday and Ethan ended up having all his lectures online. Oscar was disgusted to discover that his school was one of the few that stayed open. Although picking him up was a nightmare as every other parent in the school, including those who usually allowed their children to walk or cycle, turned up outside the school where parking is limited anyway, as the rain came down in sheets and the wind tore at leaves and branches. Luckily, our area has avoided any flooding or damage, for which I’m very grateful. The garden, though weed-infested and overgrown, is still intact. My pics this week show the autumn leaf change that is finally happening. Though my tradescantia, normally dying back by now, is still in full flower and my rhubarb and custard heuchera is still throwing up new growth – something that normally doesn’t happen in November.
The release of Flame & Blame, the second book in my Picky Eaters series happened at the end October and the launch went far better than I’d expected which was a huge relief. The Happiness Engineers at WordPress have also come through for me, so I’ve now sorted out my issues with the sidebar and I can make the covers on my current series larger, while keeping the previous series tidy and aligned.
Books I’ve read this last fortnight:
AUDIOBOOK – NOVELLA The Black God’s Drums – prequel to The Dead Djinn Universe by P. Djèlí Clark Creeper, a scrappy young teen, is done living on the streets of New Orleans. Instead, she wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.
But Creeper keeps another secret close to heart–Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie… This was a riveting tale, which although isn’t very long – is packed full of action and adventure. And Creeper is a delightful protagonist, whose gutsy attitude completely won me over. It reminds me that there is now a full-length novel in this world that I also need to check out. 9/10
The Green Man’s Quarry – Book 5 of The Green Man series by Juliet E. McKenna The Green Man sends Daniel Mackmain to stop threats from folklore making trouble in the everyday world. Now a naiad and dryad want him to deal with the big cat they’ve seen prowling in their woods. Reports like this turn up in the tabloid press from time to time, though no one has ever caught such a cat, or even found evidence of a large carnivore’s kills.
Can Dan discover the truth behind this modern myth before social media turns his hunt into an internet sensation? He knows that not all animals are what they seem. A huge cat which can appear and disappear without a trace must be more than meets the eye. Dan knows one thing for certain. He’s on the trail of a killer. This is one of those rare series that is an auto-buy for both of us. I was delighted when Himself announced this one was available and put everything else on hold to tuck into it. 10/10
Bookshops & Bonedust – prequel to the Legends and Latte series by Travis Baldree Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?
Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.
Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected. T. Kingfisher has described this offering as ‘a warm hug of a book’ and she’s absolutely right. Review to follow.
Nectar for the God – Book 2 of the Mennik Thorn series by Patrick Samphire Only an idiot would ignore his debt to a high mage, and Mennik Thorn is not an idiot, no matter what anyone might say. He’s just been … distracted. But now he’s left it too late, and if he doesn’t obey the high mage’s commands within the day, his best friends’ lives will be forfeit. So it’s hardly the time to take on an impossible case: proving a woman who murdered a stranger in full view is innocent.
Unfortunately, Mennik can’t resist doing the right thing – and now he’s caught in a deadly rivalry between warring high mages, his witnesses are dying, and something ancient has turned its eyes upon him.
The fate of the city is once again in the hands of a second-rate mage. Mennik Thorn should have stayed in hiding. I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Shadow of a Dead God, which rightly garnered a lot of attention and awards. So I was delighted to find this one also available. Nik Thorn is once again beleaguered and overwhelmed – yet Samphire manages to keep him from becoming a tedious whiner. It’s a tricky balance to achieve. This vivid city, with its pantheon of gods, leaps off the page to the extent that I’ve dreamt of it… Highly recommended. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Green Mars – Book 2 of the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson Nearly a generation has passed since the first pioneers landed, but the transformation of Mars to an Earthlike planet has just begun. The plan is opposed by those determined to preserve the planet’s hostile, barren beauty.
Led by rebels like Peter Clayborne, these young people are the first generation of children born on Mars. They will be joined by original settlers Maya Toitovna, Simon Frasier, and Sax Russell. Against this cosmic backdrop, passions, rivalries, and friendships explode in a story as spectacular as the planet itself. While I don’t feel this book has quite the sweep and impact of the first book, that may be because I’ve become accustomed to the extent and ambition of this fabulous series. I’m still blown away by the scope of the writing. SKR has provided one of the best depictions of posthumans I’ve read. If you’re into stories of terraforming, this series is a must-read/listen. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – NOVELLA In the Vanishers’ Palace by Alliette de Bodard A dragon, among the last of her kind, cold and aloof but desperately trying to make a difference. When failed scholar Yên is sold to Vu Côn, one of the last dragons walking the earth, she expects to be tortured or killed for Vu Côn’s amusement.
But Vu Côn, it turns out, has a use for Yên, as she needs a scholar to tutor her two unruly children. She takes Yên back to her home, a vast, vertiginous palace-prison where every door can lead to death. Vu Côn seems stern and unbending, but as the days pass Yên comes to see her kinder and caring side. She finds herself dangerously attracted to the dragon who is her master and jailer. In the end, Yên will have to decide where her own happiness lies—and whether it will survive the revelation of Vu Côn’s dark, unspeakable secrets… This novella is undoubtedly well written. But in common with many fantasy reads on the literary end of the genre, I felt the pace suffered from too much repetition. And unfortunately, I saw the final plot twist well before it happened. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable story that I was never tempted to DNF. 7/10
The Hunting Moon – Book 2 of The Luminaries series by Susan Dennard Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity. The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.
Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that’s killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent. On top of that, following her dad’s convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.
Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own. As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie. I was keenly anticipating this one, as I thoroughly enjoyed the first book. Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – Witches’ Brew – Book 3 of the Dark Streets series by B.R. Kingsolver Washington, D.C., has never been boring, but this is ridiculous. Warring witch covens. Werewolf packs fighting for territory. Rumors of Human sacrifice. Minor problems leading up to Beltane, when the portents say the veils between worlds will shred. Did I mention the blood mage conspiracy using Troll shock troops to take over the world?
With a jaguar shifter, a handsome Nephilim, and a nest of feisty Fairies watching my back, things should be fine. Right? I was a bit devastated to discover that this lovely, entertaining read is the last book in this series. I’ve grown very fond of the feisty little elf who features in these tales and was hoping for more, given how detailed the world is. The only comfort is that I’ve now discovered another prolific urban fantasy author, whose writing I thoroughly enjoy. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – The Fairies of Sadieville – Book 6 of the Tufa series by Alex Bledsoe “This is real.” Three small words on a film canister found by graduate students Justin and Veronica, who discover a long-lost silent movie from more than a century ago. The startlingly realistic footage shows a young girl transforming into a winged being. Looking for proof behind this claim, they travel to the rural foothills of Tennessee to find Sadieville, where it had been filmed.
Soon, their journey takes them to Needsville, whose residents are hesitant about their investigation, but Justin and Veronica are helped by Tucker Carding, who seems to have his own ulterior motives. When the two students unearth a secret long hidden, everyone in the Tufa community must answer the most important question of their entire lives — what would they be willing to sacrifice in order to return to their fabled homeland of Tir na nOg? This is another awesome series that has come to an end… Bledsoe’s wonderful, savage depiction of fairies living in the Appalachian mountains is a whole lot grittier than almost anything I’ve ever read. But they are still surrounded with glamour, dangerously sexy to the extent that I’ve dreamt of them and their tragic history. Bledsoe brings the series home with this wonderful tale. However, whatever you do, don’t start here. Not because you’d flounder, he’s too good an author to let that happen. But because it would be such a shame not to experience the Tufa in all their glorious complexity. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – Magic Ops – Book 1 of the Federal Agents of Magic series by T.R. Cameron FBI Agent Diana Sheen is an agent with a secret…
…she carries a badge and a troll, along with a little magic. But her Most Wanted List is going to take a little extra effort. She’ll have to embrace her powers and up her game to take down new threats, not to mention deal with the troll that’s adopted her.
All signs point to a serious threat lurking just beyond sight, pulling the strings to put the forces of good in harm’s way. Magic or mundane, you break the law, and Diana’s gonna find you, tag you and bring you in. Watch out magical baddies, this agent can level the playing field. This offering didn’t quite work for me. There’s a huge amount of action going on which is clearly written. But I didn’t quite connect with Diana, or anyone else. While I was never tempted to abandon this one, I don’t think I’ll be reading or listening to any of the other books in the series. 6/10.
BLURB: The Green Man sends Daniel Mackmain to stop threats from folklore making trouble in the everyday world. Now a naiad and dryad want him to deal with the big cat they’ve seen prowling in their woods. Reports like this turn up in the tabloid press from time to time, though no one has ever caught such a cat, or even found evidence of a large carnivore’s kills.
Can Dan discover the truth behind this modern myth before social media turns his hunt into an internet sensation? He knows that not all animals are what they seem. A huge cat which can appear and disappear without a trace must be more than meets the eye. Dan knows one thing for certain. He’s on the trail of a killer.
REVIEW: Dan is an interesting character – tall and powerfully built with more than his share of charisma, as his mother is a dryad. I’ve enjoyed watching him mature throughout this series as the different adventures have left their mark – including an ongoing relationship with Fin, who shapeshifts into a swan. As with the other books in this series, this offering encompasses a separate adventure, so you pick this one up without any undue floundering if you haven’t had the pleasure of the other Green Man tales. That said, as this is one of my all-time favourite fantasy series – you’re missing out on a wonderful world if you haven’t read all these books.
Rather than urban fantasy, this is more of a rural fantasy as once more McKenna dives deep into the rich alternate history of myth and folklore that weaves throughout British history. Although this time, she turns her attention to an apparently more recent legend – that of large feral cats roaming our wilder countryside. McKenna’s descriptions of the landscape are a joy as they vividly set the scene – and this time around, I particularly enjoyed the tension within the supernatural community when confronted with the risk of discovery. I was also interested in Dan’s own growing sense of his role within the community. He is good at reaching out to entities not accustomed to interacting with others and getting their co-operation – which isn’t something he’s ever thought much about. Until now.
I also really appreciate the lack of angst between Fin and Dan. While a long-distance relationship is never easy, they both have committed to it and it’s refreshing to have a fictional couple who aren’t busy two-timing each other, or thinking about it, or dealing with other similar dramas. Once again, I stayed up far later than I should to finish this cracking read as McKenna spins another story full of adventure and incident in this superb series. Very highly recommended for fans of fantasy in a contemporary setting filled with creatures from British folklore. 10/10
Brainfluff 