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.
Last weekend, the family had planned to get together to commemorate my sister’s birthday for the first time since her death at Christmas. However Mum and Dad and my sister and her husband all came down with Covid after a get-together the previous weekend. And then Himself got sick, battling a ferocious cold, including several serious nosebleeds. It’s the third cold he’s had this year and by far the worst – to the extent that he had to take time off work, which he hardly ever does. Fortunately, he’s now over the worst of it. Oscar has also been unwell with an upset stomach – I hate it when family are ill.
We were lucky to have Eliza stay over last weekend, in readiness for the family get-together that never happened. She is a real poppet. We had a lovely day on Saturday, so took her out to Highdown Gardens, which is where the photos were taken. That is a handkerchief tree, which looks amazing when in flower.
This week, I’ve been cracking on with my current WIP, Conclave of Dragons, the fifth book in the Picky Eaters series. It’s been a struggle to get back to writing since Christmas but at long last, I’m feeling more like the old writing me. I’ve also been working on a presentation about Nonsense Verse that I’ll be giving tomorrow at the Swanbourne Poets’ meeting. The last time I did anything like this was back in 2018, when I was a Creative Writing tutor at Northbrook College – so I’m a tad nervous.
Books I’ve read this last fortnight:
A Letter to the Luminous Deep –Book 1 of The Sunken Archive series by Sylvie Cathrall
A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.
Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.
A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.
This one starts quite slowly, so if you’re struggling with the opening chapters my advice is to persevere as the pace picks up and it’s a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable read. 10/10
Claws and Contrivances –Book 2 of The Regency Dragons series by Stephanie Burgis
Passionate, idealistic Rose Tregarth may have been invited into her uncle’s remote home in the heart of Wales as an act of kindness to a poor relation, but it doesn’t take her long to realize that her newly-met family members are eccentric, creative, deeply lovable – and in need of all the help they can get. If the crumbling medieval walls of Gogodd Abbey aren’t to collapse around their heads at any moment, someone will have to step up and take charge of the situation. Fortunately for all of them, Rose has never lacked in determination.
Add in more and more mysteriously appearing little dragons and a threatening new neighbor who could easily star as the villain in one of her aunt’s fabulous Gothic novels, and Rose is soon up to her ears in plots and schemes to save all the people and beasts she’s come to love…with the help of a sweet, baffled dragon scholar whom Rose has swept into a fake betrothal – for purely practical purposes, of course.
With her fierce, loyal heart, Rose is more than ready to take care of everyone around her, dragons and humans alike. However, it may take an act of true magic to clear her eyes to the future – and the gentleman – she desires for herself.
At present, historical adventures featuring dragons and a splash of romance is my literary catnip. And Burgis does a wonderful job of ticking all the boxes when it comes to providing a thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning experience. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Dark Harvest Magic – Book 2 of the Ella Grey series by Jayne Faith
We Demon patrol officer Ella Grey is all about saving the ones she loves, even as she fends off the reaper that’s trying to eat her soul. When a witch in her best friend’s coven is murdered, Ella must set aside her own battles to take down a supernatural assassin. She’ll only have one chance because her best friend Deb is next on the hit list.
But Ella didn’t count on the dark and powerful magic that brought the assassin to life–or the man behind the assassin. It’s a nightmare beast sent by none other than tycoon Jacob Gregori, and he aims to kill Deb and every last witch in Lynnette Leblanc’s coven. It turns out Lynnette is dabbling in the same dark magic that Jacob covets. And that’s not the only surprise Lynnette has in store for Ella.
To have any hope of saving Deb and the other witches, Ella will have to wield magic so rare and powerful it could kill her.
This entertaining urban fantasy adventure gave us more of an insight into the being busy consuming Ella’s soul. As well as some extremely nasty beings targeting people she loves. I’m thoroughly enjoying this series and am looking forward to tucking into the next book reasonably soon. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Burn Me Deadly – Book 2 of the Eddie LaCrosse series Alex Bledsoe
Above Angelina’s Tavern in down-and-dirty Neceda you’ll find the office of Eddie LaCrosse, a freelance sword jockey who, for twenty-five gold pieces a day, will take on any task short of murder for hire. Eddie’s on his way back from a routine investigation when his horse almost runs down a half-naked blonde in serious trouble. Against his better judgment, he promises to protect the frightened young woman, only to find himself waylaid by unknown assailants and left for dead beside her mutilated body.
Eddie isn’t the kind of guy to just let something like this pass. But who killed Laura Lesperitt? Eddie’s quest for payback leads him to a tangled mystery involving a notorious crime lord, a backwoods dragon cult, royal scandals, and a duplicitous femme fatale who has trouble keeping her clothes on. As bodies pile up, attracting the unwelcome attention of the king’s guards, Eddie must use all his wits if he hopes to survive . . .
This intriguing detective noire series in a swords and sorcery setting is a thumping good read. Eddie is just the right mix of tough and violent, yet with an instinct for protecting those unable to defend themselves. And this clever story unexpectedly features a mythical creature, which was the icing on a very well written cake. 9/10
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies – Book 1 of The Vacation Mysteries by Catherine Mack
Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for.
All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series―is that too much to ask?
Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life―the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life―Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case.
Contending with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker―and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly―theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder?
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, which manages to give us something a bit different in a very crowded genre. It’s just a shame my poor old Kindle so badly mangled the footnotes – next time, I’ll get hold of the audiobook. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – A Royal Witch – Book 7 of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Boxed Set by Danielle Garrett
There are several new roommates in the Beechwood Manor, and one of them is a royal witch.
Literally and figuratively. Unrest in a haven-ally magical kingdom leads a foreign princess into hiding and the Supernatural Protection Agency deems the Beechwood Manor as the perfect safe house—and Holly, her perfect guardian.
But with Holly’s business taking off and a new apprentice under her wing, a royal babysitting detail is the last thing she needs. Besides, the spoiled princess is adamant she can take care of herself. So who could blame her if her supervision is a little lax?
When tragedy strikes, the bratty royal’s problems land at the manor’s front door and it’s going to take all hands on deck if the paranormal roomies hope to make it out alive.
I’ve not only grown really fond of Holly over the last seven books – but I’m also invested in the rest of the regulars who live at Beechwood Manor. Garrett has once again managed to produce a nicely twisty plot with sufficient change to keep the series fresh, without upsetting the dynamic. And that’s harder to pull off than Garrett makes it look. 8/10
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
When Lauren returns home to her flat in London late one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There’s only one problem—she’s not married. She’s never seen this man before in her life. But according to her friends, her much-improved decor, and the photos on her phone, they’ve been together for years.
As Lauren tries to puzzle out how she could be married to someone she can’t remember meeting, Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb and abruptly disappears. In his place, a new man emerges, and a new, slightly altered life re-forms around her. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren confronts the question: If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, how do you know you’ve taken the right path? When do you stop trying to do better and start actually living?
This book looks like a light, humorous rom-com. It isn’t. It is actually exploring what happens to us when we have the option to reject partners quickly and easily. While this is clearly an important and pertinent subject – it wasn’t what I thought I was getting. 6/10
AUDIOBOOK – Dark Jenny – Book 3 of the Eddie LaCrosse series by Alex Bledsoe
Freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse is in the wrong place at the wrong time while conducting an undercover investigation on the island kingdom of Grand Bruan. When a poisoned apple kills a member of the queen’s personal guard, Eddie becomes the prime suspect in the murder. He must do some fast talking to keep his head attached to his shoulders. While trying to clear his name and find the real killer, Eddie becomes embroiled in a nasty political scandal. Someone is trying to ruin Queen Jennifer and doesn’t care who is killed along the way.
The more Eddie digs, the more twisted the lies become, until Eddie finds himself caught between two opposing armies. The fate of the entire kingdom lies in his hands. Murder, betrayal, and magic—just another day on the job for Eddie LaCrosse.
This is a nifty and rather dark retelling of the King Arthur story. Once again, I sat up late and listened spellbound to this one as I didn’t want to put it down. Such clever plotting and a wonderful protagonist… 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – He Drank, and Saw the Spider – Book 5 of the Eddie LaCrosse series by Alex Bledsoe
After he fails to save a stranger from being mauled to death by a bear, a young mercenary is saddled with the baby girl the man died to protect. He leaves her with a kindly shepherd family and goes on with his violent life.
Now, sixteen years later, that young mercenary has grown up to become cynical sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse. When his vacation travels bring him back to that same part of the world, he can’t resist trying to discover what has become of the mysterious infant.
He finds that the child, now a lovely young teenager named Isadora, is at the center of complicated web of intrigue involving two feuding kings, a smitten prince, a powerful sorceress, an inhuman monster, and long-buried secrets too shocking to imagine. And once again she needs his help.
They say a spider in your cup will poison you, but only if you see it. Eddie, helped by his smart, resourceful girlfriend Liz, must look through the dregs of the past to find the truth about the present—and risk what might happen if he, too, sees the spider.
I don’t often listen or read books back to back – but discovered that this one was about to become unavailable on the Audible Plus Catalogue, so I tucked straight into it. Once more Eddie becomes enmeshed in a twisty plot stretching back sixteen years. Worse – he’s on holiday with his ladylove, Liz, when the past comes back to bite him… I’m in mourning as there are no more Eddie LaCrosse or Tufa books. If you enjoy gritty tales told with plenty of panache and skill – go looking for Bledsoe’s books. He really, really should be far better known. 10/10
My posts last week:
Castellan and His Wise Draconic Tips on Life
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Can’t-Wait-Wednesday featuring Elusive – Book 2 of The Scarlet Revolution by Genevieve Cogman
Hope you, too, had some brilliant books to tuck into and wishing you all a happy, healthy week😊.
Brainfluff 