Booking Ahead/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 so 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:
Books read this week:
My reading as been a bit quieter this week. I managed to complete my first SPFBO book so I’m happy about that. I’m still reading Silvia Moreno Garcia’s Signal to Noise and I also started The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore.
Next Week’s Reads:
Hoping to complete The Witch and the Tsar and Signal to Noise. .
Reviews Posted since my last Sunday Post:
- A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske
- Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
- Love Will Tear Us Apart by CK McDonnell
- The Winter Killer by Alex Pines
- Pulling the Wings off Angels by KJ Parker
- The Creeper by AM Shine
- SPFBO No.1
Friday Face Off : And they all lived happily ever after – fairy tales retold
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.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
And they all lived happily ever after – fairy tales retold
Sorry I didn’t post last week. I got behind and then at the last minute I tried to find a book but struggled and decided not to go with a book I’ve used before. That being said I think this week will be easier for me although my book is a slight cheat. I’ve gone for a book that I loved and that reads like a fairytale, it feels like it has elements of other tales in their but they’ve been changed to make them unique. Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisther. I just loved this book and highly recommend. My first by this author for definitely not my last. To the covers:
My favourite:
Do you have a favourite?
If you’re taking part in this week’s theme feel free to leave your link in the comments below. Also, you may have noticed that I’ve not updated the list. I’m making a change to the Friday Face Off and will post more soon on that front.
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’s Theme : Assassins
2022
A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske
24 November 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Restless Truth, Freya Marske, The Last Binding #2
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Fantasy of Manners Murder Mystery
I had a really good time with this – even though I just discovered that I crashed into the series on the second book – whoops! Anyway, the very least I can say is that you can read this book without having read the first! Although if this is anything to go by I’m sure the first is delightful. This was an entertaining, fantasy of manners with a murder mystery and romance. I actually requested the audio version which was really good – thought I’d just throw that in here in case I forget later. I thought the narration was spot on.
Anyway, Maud Blyth is aboard the R.M.S. Lyric enroute to America accompanying a woman carrying a magical artefact. Unfortunately, when Maud’s companion is murdered she takes measures to uncover the perpetrator and solve the mystery. What could possibly go wrong?
I’m not going to go overboard (pun intended *andsorry*) on the plot but just highlight what worked so well for me.
Firstly, the writing and attention to detail is really good. This isn’t overloaded with descriptions but there’s enough to give a really firm footing and to pull you into the period. I loved the writing, it flows well, the story has legs and the dialogue is witty.
Secondly, I liked Maud a lot, she has a wonderful arc developing emotionally and really finding herself along the way. The other predominant characters are Violet Debenham – who is fantastic, I just loved her. She’s a young woman who ran away from her family’s straitlaced expectations to become an actress in America. She’s inherited some money and is returning to the UK with her family who are determined to latch onto some of that inheritance in any way possible and she loves to be shocking. What a breath of fresh air she was. I also liked Hawthorn who was the steadfast character and the ship’s master, he was roped into all sorts of shenanigans.
Finally the setting. I loved this and felt it worked really well. It felt like everyone was in really close quarters with each other on an almost constant basis. There’s not much room to maneuver and no way of escape although lots of secret places to hide. There’s an almost claustrophobic feel. The author throws in some perfectly quirky and strange asides such as the strange menagerie that’s travelling on board, ghosts and even a seance. We spend much of the voyage with the first class passengers all eyeing each other nervously and the baddies finally show their hand ramping up the tension.
In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have much. I loved that there was magic included but didn’t really get much of a feel for the dynamics which I blame on myself for not having reading book 1. There’s an almost over-the-top-Agatha-Christie-Vaudevillian feel to the story with the criminals being overblown caricatures but to be fair, I enjoyed the overall feel and thought it played into the cosy mystery elements Let’s just be honest – a gritty police drama this is not.
This is a fast paced, sometimes steamy, quite often funny, beautifully written cosy (I guess you could call it a locked room) mystery story with endearing characters, a lovely romance and a menagerie of craziness. Talking parrots, racy scenes and an overall charm that I was really taken with.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
23 November 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Atalanta, Can't wait Wednesday, Jennifer Saint, 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 : Atalanta by Jennifer Saint. Author of Ariadne and Elektra – sign me up.
When a daughter is born to the King of Arcadia, she brings only disappointment.
Left exposed on a mountainside, the defenceless infant Atalanta, is left to the mercy of a passing mother bear and raised alongside the cubs under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis.
Swearing that she will prove her worth alongside the famed heroes of Greece, Atalanta leaves her forest to join Jason’s band of Argonauts. But can she carve out her own place in the legends in a world made for men?
Expected publication : April 2023
Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
My Five Word TL/DR Review : Really liked it, wanted more
I really enjoyed Tread of Angels, it’s pacy, it has a Western setting and a murder mystery that culminates in a court case and it’s a surprise story about good and evil and the surprises you uncover when you jump to hasty conclusions. Basically, this is a world with very clear demarcations, a world of angels and demons. It takes a look at class and privilege and how nothing is ever as black and white as it may seem.
This is such a good read, I really enjoyed myself and almost read it in one sitting. My only real problem, and of course everyone will have different mileage where this is concerned, I really think this could have been a little longer. An extra 100 pages would have given a better build up and less of a rushed feel to the ending. As it is, I seriously hope this is a setting that the author will return to.
Let’s look at the setting. Goetia is a boomtown where wealthy mines provide the source of power for the latest innovations. It’s also a town with a rich history where battles were fought and the Fallen are only now tolerated for their ability to detect where the wealthiest lodes worth mining can be found. Virtues (archangels) rule the town and the inhabitants fall into the Elect (angelic descent) and the Fallen (demons).
The main character, Celeste now lives and works within Goetia’s fallen side of town, although she was raised by her father and could pass amongst the Elect. Her sister Mariel was raised by their mother in the slums. The two now work in a gaming house, Celeste at a card table and her sister, owner of such a beautiful song voice, as a celebrated singer. Things go terribly wrong when the body of a murdered Virtue is discovered and Mariel accused of the murder. Celeste will do anything to protect her sister and finds herself appointed as Advocatus Diaboli (devil’s advocate). She only has a very small window of opportunity to discover the truth and save Mariel from execution.
What I really liked about this in the first instance was the wild west setting which I am a total sucker for at the moment. Couple this with angels and demons and we have this commentary on racism and the opportunity to look at human nature at it’s best and worst. Not everything is always as clear cut as it may first appear and people will at times go to extreme lengths to protect those they love.
On top of this I really enjoyed the murder mystery. To be honest I don’t think the eventual conclusion was a surprise but regardless of that I enjoyed following Celeste on her search for answers.
Overall, this was a really good read although I can’t help wishing for more and I would return to this world without hesitation.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
