Nanny Dearest by Flora Collins
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Mixed feelings for this one
Nanny Dearest is a well written and engaging book by an author that I would definitely check out again, however, I didn’t completely love it.
This is a story about a woman in her mid-twenties who bumps into a person from her past that she doesn’t recall. Sue Keller is a woman in her mid-twenties, lonely and suffering mentally following the death of her remaining parent in a tragic accident. She doesn’t recall the nanny who took care of her when she was a toddler but she’s desperate to hear stories of the time and happy to meet up with Annie to discover more of the mother she lost to illness so long ago.
What immediately becomes apparent is that Sue is desperately looking for someone maternal in her life, someone she can lean on a little. What isn’t immediately apparent is that Annie is equally in need of this connection for her own reasons.
Nanny Dearest is told through two alternating povs, Annies account of events when she first started nannying for the Kellers and current day with Sue first meeting Annie when she’s going through such a bad patch in her life. I have to say that I do love dual timelines like this and it works particularly well here because all though Sue does sometimes recall certain events, for the most part, it’s Annie that’s giving us an account of what took place way back when – and oddly enough, although I wouldn’t particularly say she’s trustworthy I think she is a reliable narrator here.
For a debut novel I have to say that I’m really impressed with the writing. Collins can certainly set a scene to perfection and also manages to achieve a steady drip feed of tension as the cracks in this strange relationship begin to show.
So, why did I have mixed feelings. Well, firstly, this is a slow build of a story – but on this occasion that isn’t in fact a criticism, in fact, to be honest I preferred the first half of the book where there was the expectation of something being revealed later down the line. The tension and expectation kept me pretty much glued to the page and there was this deliciously easy build up that something was about to happen. But, yes, I admit that this is a slow burn. My mixed feelings come more into play regarding the characters. I mean, I didn’t really like any of them. Even the periphery characters. The thing with that is that I think the two central characters are struggling with mental health issues so it feels wrong to say I didn’t like them – but, some of the decisions and actions they made just baffled me. And, the ending. What just happened? There was a feeling that the reveal was working up to something really huge but ultimately it felt a little disappointing for me.
All that being said, I very much think my over active imagination didn’t help with this read. I think I was expecting a psychological horror where this felt more like a suspense with strong obsessive vibes. As I mentioned I think the writing was really good though and although this particular book didn’t quite work for me I think this author shows great promise.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Girl and the Moon (Book of the Ice #3) by Mark Lawrence
“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: The Girl and the Moon (Book of the Ice #3) by Mark Lawrence. And, here’s why (also two fantastic covers):
The fate of the world hangs from the Moon
The green world overwhelms all of Yaz’s expectations. Everything seems different but some things remain the same: her old enemies are still bent on her destruction.
The Corridor abounds with plenty and unsuspected danger. To stand a chance against the eyeless priest, Eular, and the god-like city-mind, Seus, Yaz will need to learn fast and make new friends.
The Convent of Sweet Mercy, like the Corridor itself, is packed with peril and opportunity. Yaz needs the nuns’ help – but first they want to execute her.
The fate of everyone squeezed between the Corridor’s vast walls, and ultimately the fate of those labouring to survive out on ice itself, hangs from the moon, and the battle to save the moon centres on the Ark of the Missing, buried beneath the emperor’s palace. Everyone wants Yaz to be the key that will open the Ark – the one the wise have sought for generations. But sometimes wanting isn’t enough.
THE GIRL AND THE MOON is the third and final volume in The Book of Ice trilogy.
Expected publication : April 2022
Top Ten Tuesday : Bookish Reminiscing
30 November 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reminiscing, That Artsy Reader Girl, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic :
Bookish Memories (Share stories of your reading life as a child, events you’ve gone to, books that made an impression on you, noteworthy experiences with books, authors you’ve met, etc. Reminisce with me!)
So, for this week’s theme I thought I’d do a little recap of my reading journey – in a very compressed form! Here goes:
1. My earliest memory of a book I owned (well two books actually) were a couple of story books. One was a traditional book of fairytales, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, etc. The second book was a book of totally unusual stories that I absolutely loved. It wasn’t a picture book but there were little sketches every few pages. I’d never read anything like it and I think that (and the fairytale book) shaped my reading in terms of speculative fiction. You can’t go wrong with a bit of Grimm (although this isn’t the book from my childhood):
2. One of my early teachers also had a big influence on my reading. I was probably aged 8 (or thereabouts). I wanted to read but didn’t always know what exactly to pick up and she was always giving us suggestions such as the Borrowers, Wizard of Oz and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
3. My Dad’s books made up a lot of my reading, he had lots of collections and I slowly but surely made my way through them. I was older at this point – early teens perhaps. So I read a lot of classics during that period. The Brontes, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, a little Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, etc before finally stumbling on a book that I loved and still love in fact.
4. Lord of the Rings. Wow, did I have a crush on Aragorn? Oh yes I did. Another book crush at the time, and you couldn’t really get further apart in terms of style was Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind. I devoured that book.
5. By the age of about 19 I was starting to run out of books on my dad’s shelves – well, certainly ones that I was interested in reading. So I realised my brother had some books. I don’t think he was a massive reader but he had a bookshelf and so off I went to explore. Most of his books didn’t really appeal to me although I did return every now and again and read the odd one. But on my first visit one book really stood out to me. The Far Pavilions. The cover appealed so I packed it off into my bag to read on the way to and from work. I’d been reading it a few days (and loving it) when I overheard a discussion (or argument) between my brother and dad. Basically my brother was saying he’d bought a book for my dad’s approaching birthday, put it on his shelves and now it was gone. Yeah, the book currently sitting, a little battered in my work bag, crammed in next to the empty wrappers and hairbrush, oh yes, that was the birthday prezzie. Obviously I had to confess – how we laughed. In fairness, we did actually laugh and it’s a story that stuck with me.
6. I had a fabulous colleague that I worked with for a number of years called Caroline. Every time she read a good book she’d bring it in for me to read to see what I felt. Caroline gave me the Bronze Horseman to read on holiday and I absolutely loved it. In fact I think I’ve probably read all Paullina Simons books as a result (or a lot of them at least)! Caroline’s sister also got me hooked onto the Outlander (known as Cross Stitch when released in the UK). That was another holiday read that I devoured on holiday in Cornwall – I actually went in search of a bookstore so I could buy the second in series because I couldn’t wait until I got home to read the next instalment.
7. Two further influences. My husband – who set up my blog in the first place. Long story short I was keeping a book diary on my laptop and it was deleted by accident so along came ‘Lynnsbooks”. Secondly, my OH bought me my first kindle. I wasn’t very impressed at the time and was stubbornly determined to not use it, then I discovered how easily I could have books at my disposal within minutes, I could take hundreds of books on holiday and still have room for clothes in the suitcase. My kindle was backlit. I could made notes. So many things. Well, consider me a convert. I still love actual physical books but the kindle wins out for most my reading these days.
8. Leading on from there was one of the earliest blogs I can recall interacting with which was The Little Red Reviewer. So many great books and other blogs came my way as a result of that blog not to mention readalongs and taking part in other reading events. I still take part in the Vintage Sci-fi event that was originally created by the LRR and undoubtedly it took my SFF reading in a whole new direction. To those who recommend great books – I salute you.
9. Another blogger who influenced me a lot was Wondrous Reads. I met the host of WR in a bookstore and we got talking about books, we had such a lot to say we started meeting and exchanging recommendations regularly. Those were some very good times. We live many miles apart now so rarely meet up – especially with all the Covid restrictions over the past couple of years – but we will get together again eventually I’m sure. In the meantime – I Am Legend – that is all.
I will leave the 10th spot free for you to tell me a story about your reading influences.
The Bone Shard Emperor (The Drowning Empire #2) by Andrea Stewart
29 November 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Andrea Stewart, The Bone Shard Emperor, The Drowning Empire #2
My Five Word TL:DR Review : A solid second in series
The Bone Shard Emperor is a very strong second instalment in The Drowning Empire series by Andrea Stewart. This is such a unique concept with excellent world building, strong characters, plenty of twists and great writing.
Before I start this post. Firstly, this review may contain spoilers for book 1 so if you haven’t started this series yet then keep that in mind before continuing. Secondly, this is not a series that you can easily jump aboard half way through (imo). The first book established a lot in terms of the history of the place and the central characters so if you dive straight in here then I think you will missing a lot of context. Thirdly, I won’t be elaborating on the set up because I covered a lot of that in my review of the Bone Shard Daughter and I don’t want to repeat it here.
Instead, lets focus on events that take place in No.2, look at character arcs and hint at developments.
This instalment once again brings to us a number of povs so plenty here for everyone to enjoy (I think). The story picks up almost immediately following the Bone Shard Daughter. Lin is Emperor but her rule is fair from secure. Rogue constructs roam the islands attacking people and causing chaos and Lin needs to travel around the empire to try and gain support for her rule from the Governors. Lin and Jovis begin to form an attachment of sorts but this is also hampered by the number of secrets both are keeping. Primarily Lin, having a very personal secret that if it was discovered would have disastrous consequences, plus she’s also struggling to come to terms with all the hidden secrets in the palace and the lack of knowledge she actually has about ruling an empire. Jovis, no longer a smuggler but given control of Lin’s army also keeps secrets which could see him executed were they discovered. What I really enjoyed about seeing these five different povs is the insight into the other character’s way of thinking. Of course, sometimes, this can also be frustrating because you can sometimes see how much easier things would be if they simply opened up. I really enjoyed Phalue and Ranami’s chapters this time around. It felt like they really grew and in fact I found myself really looking forward to their storyline (much more than in book 1). Again, I think that the companion talking critters are undoubtedly show stealers here and I suspect will be absolute favorites.
There are a lot of twists and turns with this one. Spies, construct armies, the return of the Alanga, the nature of Lin herself, strained relationships, politics between the islands, scheming and some pretty cool reveals. In fact with this instalment I felt like I came away with a much better understanding of the place and the interactions between all the different factions. There is, without doubt, a lot to unload but fortunately this episode gives enough time for all the aspects to unfold naturally and with enough attention to prevent confusion. Also, did I mention sinking islands?
In terms of slight reservations. There is a little bit of going back and forth in some respects. Plus a feeling of slight frustration with Jovis with a number of his decisions, but, neither of these caused any issues for me and I found the pages turning with ease. Also, there are a number of open threads at the conclusion of this one that have me jumping up and down for the next book (no pressure at all!)
Overall I have to say that I am really enjoying this series. It’s very easy to get along with. The writing is confident and the world is so wonderfully creative. I can’t wait for more
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.
Friday Face Off : A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
26 November 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Black Hole, Books by Proxy, Friday Face off
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.
This week’s theme:
A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
This week I’ve gone for a book that I’ve used before – to be honest this is a tough theme so I hope you all did better than I did (although I confess that sometimes it feels good to revisit a book and give it some more of the spotlight). The Ring by Kōji Suzuki:
Let’s take a look at the covers:
Immediate stand outs for me:
So, if you’re wondering about the black hole – the first and third give you a good idea of where I’m coming from – one is looking up from the bottom or a dark space and the other is someone looking into that dark space. My favourite cover this week is the one that gives me the heebie jeebies.
Do you have a favourite?
In other news I’ve come up with a new list for next year, it needs a little switching around and polishing so will publish it this weekend if it’s all complete to allow people to plan ahead. This list is slightly different in that I’ve gone for a lot of book themes, so, still a cover face off but a little bit more flexibility which hopefully will give a new boost to the FFO. 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 – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
2021
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
Books and travelling with Lynn 