Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
9 August 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Reviewer, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing this last year but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Last week:
Another week of naff internet and a post a day late – my life at the moment!. My blog looks like I’ve gone on holiday. I’m not responding to comments or blog hopping and in fact this post is a day late! I keep being given reassurances that things are in motion – but basically, they lie!! I’m beginning to have a general feeling of being ‘fobbed off’. Oh well, worse things happen. I’ve not read much this week because I’ve been busy with other life things. I did manage to complete Paper and Blood by Kevin Hearne – I think Iron Druid fans can also prepare to be happy with this one I’ve also continued with Empire’s Ruin. I feel like this is taking me a long time to get through and yet this isn’t a reflection of my enjoyment. It seems a much chunkier book than I realised. I absolutely love the characters. I shall continue with this this forthcoming week but also pick up a couple of others.
Continue with Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley – I will finish this even if it feels like it’s turning into a saga. I’d also like to pick up Mrs Rochester’s Ghost by Lindsay Marcott and perhaps the Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnston. What you all reading this week ??
- Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
- Paper and Blood by Kevin Hearne
Friday Face Off : The Motel
6 August 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Motels, Simone St James, The Sune Down Motel
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
So, I may have mentioned last week that my internet was pants? Well, that situation continues with the old ‘we sent somebody out, didn’t they arrive?’ chestnut. No they didn’t. Therefore I’m still operating on my mobile data and doing very little other than posting. I will catch up as soon as somebody (please, anybody) gives me my wifi back. I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath for things being resolved the past week, I’d be stone cold dead by now. On a more cheerful note –
This week’s theme:
“They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
This week I’ve gone for a book that came highly recommended. I practically pulled something rushing to buy a copy of this one, okay, I may not have read it yet but I will do so very soon. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St James. To be honest, this is the very book that I had in mind for this week’s theme so let’s look at the covers:
My favourite:
Do you have a favourite?
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week : A favourite holiday read
2021
August
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce
My Five Word TL:DR Review: One Word Will Suffice: Brilliant
Fairly recently I was delighted to discover Camilla Bruce when I read her excellent debut You Let Me In so I was so happy when I saw her most recent work Triflers Need Not Apply (or, In the Garden of Spite as it is also known) become available. To be honest, the two books couldn’t be more different if they tried but one element they undoubtedly share is excellent writing and the ability to hold you gripped, mesmerised even.
Firstly, I have to hand it to the creator of both titles because they’re so pertinent. If pressed I’d probably say In the Garden of Spite is my favourite simply because it resonates in more than one way for me in terms of the story but both have their logic.
Moving on, this is a reimagining of the life of a notorious serial killer known as The Black Widow of the Midwest. To date it is unknown exactly how many people fell victim to her schemes but Bruce does an amazing job of bringing her story to the page. It’s like watching a disaster unfold – it’s horrible, grisly, bloody and twisted but at the same time creepily hypnotic, you’re simply unable to drag your eyes away.
We start our story with Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset, a young woman born into poverty and hardship. Her family are unable to afford land instead working the farms of others. Brynhild has bigger dreams but unfortunately her schemes backfire and she almost dies when she is viciously attacked. Living in Norway becomes impossible for Brynhild and with help and some hard work she finally escapes to America, reinventing herself in the process and changing her name to Belle. Belle moves in with her sister Nellie and her husband and child until eventually marrying herself.
Here’s the thing, I’m not going to go any further with the plot. I think Bruce has done a fantastic job in researching this story and it clearly shows in the attention to detail both in terms of true events and the historical descriptions provided.
So, characters. Well, Belle is an unusual character. Being inside the head of a serial killer is not a pleasant experience, quite rightly so, but she certainly is intriguing to read. I mean, you can’t like her, she’s monstrous, and I didn’t like her, if anything she scared me but there was just this horrible fascination with her thought processes. Strangely enough I usually struggle to read a novel where I don’t like the central character and yet I had no difficulty with this one. There are moments where you feel you can perhaps see how she found herself on this terrible path and there’s a clear demonstration here of the argument of nature vs nurture. Belle has not had an easy life in many respects. That being said, as we follow her sister Nellie’s chapters it does become apparent, fairly early on, that something is not quite right with Belle and as we continue to read her chapters you can’t help but see that she is different, and not in a good way, perhaps psychopathic even – she doesn’t seem to feel remorse or regret, she seems emotionally detached and yet at the same time she integrates into society with ease coming across as virtuous and kind.
Belle’s sister Nellie, as mentioned above, provides alternating chapters which is a positively inspired choice. Firstly, it gives a little respite from Belle’s twisted line of thinking and roller coaster emotions. Secondly, it serves to ratchet up the tension as the story moves along and Nellie becomes increasingly worried about her sister’s actions but is too afraid to confront her.
At just shy of 500 pages this isn’t a short novel but I seriously didn’t feel that this was drawn out. I think I was enjoying the writing, the setting, the details that helped pull me into the time and place and the stylish delivery so much that it never felt over long to me. Maybe the fact that this is a serial killer that I wasn’t familiar with also helped with that. I was hooked completely and in fact it was only on reading the author’s note after completion that I realised this was based on a true character. Mind = blown.
Overall, this was a fascinating reimagining of real life events that even to this day remain shrouded in mystery. And, whilst I realise that this is a fictional account I loved the way the author portrayed the character of Belle. Positively chilling.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : Spirits of Vengeance (A Mortal Techniques novel) by Rob J Hayes
4 August 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Mortal Techniques novel, Can't wait Wednesday, Rob J Hayes, Spirits of Vengeance, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is : Spirits of Vengeance (A Mortal Techniques novel) by Rob J Hayes. I’m so excited to read this one. I have a copy lined up and I was waiting desperately for the cover reveal – just look at it. What a beauty:
He’ll die as many times as it takes.
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits alike, but a century of war and bloodshed saw them all but vanish. Now, the lost things are returning and the Onryo have gathered. Five legendary spirits with mysterious powers, bent on freeing an ancient evil that would wreak havoc on humanity.
Haruto swore his soul to the God of Death for the chance to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. Now an onmyoji, he’s tasked by the Imperial Throne to hunt down monsters and malicious spirits. But he knows not all spirits are evil and not all deserve the peace of the sword.
Kira is a student at Heiwa, an academy for children with dangerous techniques. But she has a secret, she’s not like the other students. When the school is attacked, she flees with one of the tutors, determined to hide both from those who would kill her, and those who would use her.
As a plague of spirits sweeps across the land, the Onryo leave a bloody trail for Haruto to follow. But who’s hunting who?
The Mortal Techniques novels are a series of stand-alone stories that can be read entirely independently, set in the award-winning Mortal Techniques universe.
Expected publication : September 2021
So, because I’m super helpful, because I love good cover art, because a thing of beauty is a joy for ever and simply just because I can – here are all three covers, posted here for your edification and delight – be warned, you may want to sit down as glimpsing all three together is simply overwhelming and might knock you off your feet:
#SPFBO 7 : My Third Batch of Books
SPFBO 7 is now into its third month and today I’m highlighting my next batch of four books. To date I’ve read and reviewed eight books and my updates for Batch 1 and 2 can be found here and here. All going to plan I should have only three books left to read, from my allocation of 15, come the end of this month.
For those of you unfamiliar with SPFBO here and here are two posts that might provide some enlightenment. Basically, SPFBO is the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off, brainchild of Mark Lawrence. 300 hopeful authors submit their word babies. 10 Judges are allocated 30 books each. Each judge chooses a finalist, the competition narrows to 10 hopeful candidates. Alas, there can be only one winner so following an intense reading session where all the judges read and score each others finalists a winner finally emerges.
The main change for myself this year is that I am joining up with the wonderful Critiquing Chemist and her lovely boffin. We are very excited to start reading our batch (at the moment equally divided between the two blogs). I love this part of the competition, it’s full of expectations and hope. As in previous years I will give a brief introduction to the books and authors that I’m picking up that month together with an update at the end of the month where I may roll some books forwards and cut others. I know! It’s a part of the competition that I’m not overly fond of but it is unavoidable. Personally, I like to think that as the competition begins we already have 300 winners who each took that bold step to throw their hat into the ring and join in. So, enjoy yourselves, take the opportunity to make friends and become part of the community.
This month the four books that I will be reading from my third batch are:
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Rising Shadows (The Pillar of Creation #1) by Phillip Blackwater
As tension rises between the southern and northern nations of the small continent of Exitium in the world of Anteris, the Elves turn to their eastern neighbors, the Humans, for help. They wish to learn the ways of combat, which they are not accustomed to, for they have always wielded a power far greater than forged steel. The Shards of Creation, mystical artifacts of great and virtually infinite power, have always been their prized weapon, but times have changed. They now face the same threat as the Humans: the southern nation known as the Ethula.
Wariel Ritch, general of the Human army, will take upon his shoulders this burden. But when a shadow of a past long forgotten threatens what little stability is left in the world, he will have to leave everything behind to stop it. Medregal Tergrast, an Ethulan king, dead for a thousand years, plans his return to the world of the living to gain back his former glory and finally fulfill his destiny by gaining control of the Shards of Creation. But is he really the threat people make him out to be?
In the meantime, in the bowels of the Human Kingdom, the reign of Dana Crystaloak is put into jeopardy when people around her start questioning her decisions. If she falls, war could break out across all lands.
About the Author
If you found your way here, then you must already know I love to write. I am a fan of fiction, mostly fantasy, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic (amongst others), and in all its forms, whether it is books, video games, movies, or tv-shows.
The first time I truly realized how much I loved fiction, was through The Lord of the Rings’ movies (like probably a lot of people). Since then, I traveled to so many different worlds: Halo, Mass Effect, Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, Witcher, and Fallout (to only name a few). It made me want to explore my own imagination and see what worlds I could create. This is what led me, among other things, to writing.
What can you expect from my books? I don’t bother myself trying to be a flowery writer, I want my writing to be available to everyone. And what I want above all when people read my books, is for them to have a good time and some fun. This is what truly matters to me.
When I’m not writing, I am: A husband. A father of three cats. Reading, gaming, or watching movies and tv shows. A big hockey fan. And when I’m done with all of that, I’m a big geek and collect a lot of stuff (No, I’m not a hoarder, I swear!).
You can follow my Twitter (@phil_blackwater) or my Instagram (@phil_blackwater), or register to the newsletter on my website, to know when new stories are available.
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By the Pact (Pacts Arcane and Otherwise 1) by Joanna Maciejewska
High mages lied: Veranesh, the demon who destroyed the continent is still alive. And it’s up to their former student to expose the truth—even if it means another Cataclysm.
When Kamira, a once high mage student turned arcanist, discovers an imprisoned demon in underground ruins, she is forced into a pact that grants her powerful magic, but also ties her to the very demon that once devastated the continent… and Veranesh wants his freedom.
With one friend by her side, Veelk, a mage killer bound on protecting her, Kamira will have to outwit the archmages, other demons, and possibly her own demonic benefactor to survive. Her chances are slim, but with Veelk’s ever-present sarcastic repartee, Kamira might just pull through.
Plots and schemes, power and means—sometimes the price for victory is choosing which friend will die, but when you only have one friend, the choice is… easy?
About the Author
Born in Poland, Joanna spent most of her childhood in Poznan, then moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she lived for over 8 years. In 2016 she moved to the US, where she hopes to finally settle.
She writes speculative fiction, so it goes without saying that she’s a fan of science-fiction and fantasy – mainly books, but also movies, comics and games (both video games and tabletop RPGs).
When she’s not busy writing, reading, or gaming, she enjoys crafts and drawing.
Melfka.com
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Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens
ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BORN, THE DEVIL CAME TO KILL HIM The son of a farmer in Iron Age Britain, Nuadhu finds himself thrust into a destiny he is ill-prepared for. After his king murders his parents, he and his brother are forced to flee into the Roman Empire under the protection of the archangel Anael. Meanwhile, a plague of the undead is sweeping across Europe from the east, raising their slain enemies as new allies. Their goal is not the conquest of one tribe or nation, but the subjugation of all humanity. Can one warrior-in-exile, hungry for vengeance, build a force to repel this existential threat? The riveting new historical fantasy adventure from the author of FROM THE HILL OF MEGIDDO and the ARMAGEDDON’S OFFSPRING series!
About the Author
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Carrion by Alyson Tait
The Rook legacy: duty at all Costs. Regina’s family are the last living members after a long line of magical families. Their heritage is a promise to the world; they can be trusted to keep magic from corrupting power hungry witches — In doing so they keep an unearthly evil from crushing humanity.
When Regina Rook’s mother dies a sudden, violent death, the living coven members come from around the world to attend the funeral, and begin breathing down her neck as next in line to lead. Trying to find a balance between her own goals and her family’s demands, all the while keeping her recent nightmares hidden where she becomes the very thing they fighting.
But when those things become intertwined, can she do anything but watch as the world around her crumbles to ancient horrors?
About the Author:
(I’m a little puzzled with the author info for Carrion. On Amazon the author shows as Alyson Tate, on Goodreads as Jamie Benson and Alyson Tait, and on the cover Alyson Tait – apologies if I have the wrong author information here).
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Good luck to this month’s authors.
Books and travelling with Lynn 