Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
25 April 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:
So this week. I’ve finally caught up with the first Discworld book – just need to put some thoughts down for that one and settle down to discuss it with my buddy. I haven’t managed to get back to The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner because I’ve been concentrating on my SPFBO books (it being the last week – no, I’m not panicking). I’ve completed The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin – my review for which should be posted tomorrow (fingers crossed and all going to plan) and I’m about 20% into Justin Lee Anderson’s The Lost War. I think I’m on track although the finish line is fast approaching. I’ve also made a start on The Girl and the Mountain which I’m about halfway through.
Next Week
Complete The Lost War, The Girl and the Mountain and The Light of the Midnight Stars. Doddle.
Reviews Posted since last Sunday:
- The Two Faced Queen by Nick Martell
- Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
Forthcoming Reviews:
- Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
- A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
- Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
- The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
- The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin
#SPFBO – Not a Review : Finalist Reading Schedule, Book #8
24 April 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO, Alexander Darwin, Finalist Reading Schedule, Not a Review, The Combat Codes
300 books 10 Judges 1 winner
The 1st of June marked the start of the sixth Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (details here.) My Introductory post is here. Stage 1 is now complete and the finalists can be found here .
During Stage 2 I will read, review and score the remaining 9 finalists as will the other judges until a winner is revealed. As with previous years I have given each of the 9 books a number and randomly selected a reading order. Today’s post is to highlight the eighth book I will be reading and provide information regarding that particular finalist. The first finalist I read was Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire. This was a great start to the finals and my review can be found here. My second book was The Fall of Erlon by Robert H Fleming which I posted my review here. My third book was Shaun Paul Steven’s Nether Light, my review for which can be found here. My fourth book was a Norse myth inspired story called Darkness Forged by Matt Larkin and my review is here.. My fifth book was A Wind from the Wilderness by Suzannah Rowntree and here is my review. My sixth book was Black Stone Heart by Michael R Fletcher, reviewed here. My seventh book was Last Memoria by Rachel Emma Shaw and my review can be found here. Today, I’m posting details of the eighth finalist – The Combat Codes (The Combat Codes Saga #1) by Alexander Darwin. I’ve already made a very good start on this one and hope to post my review on Monday. Here are the details:
The Combat Codes is the finalist put forward by The Fantasy Book Critic. Here’s a little more information:
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
In a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight so that the rest can remain at peace.
Cego is a mysterious Grievar boy forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles into the world’s most prestigious combat school.
At the Lyceum, Cego will learn a variety of martial arts from eclectic teachers, develop deep bonds of friendship and fight against contentious rivals to climb the school’s rankings.
But, Cego will find far more than combat studies at the Lyceum. He will find the mystery of his past unraveled by forces greater than he could ever imagine.
Author Information:Alexander Darwin is a fantasy / science fiction author with an unabashed reverence for combat sports. He spends his days getting humbled on the mats, staring at the unwritten pages of his next novel, and questioning the dumb luck that landed him his wonderful wife and two daughters.
Friday Face Off : Your Current Read
23 April 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book of the Ice #2, Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Mark Lawrence, The Girl and the Mountain
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:
Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read
Hopefully this week’s theme should be fairly easy (although sometimes with newer books there aren’t always lots of cover to compare). This week, and the book I’m currently reading, has two covers so this will be a face off. The book in question is The Girl and the Mountain (Book of the Ice #2) by Mark Lawrence, and here are the two covers:
vs
I find it really difficult to choose between these two tbh. I like both of them for entirely different reasons. I love the first one with the dark background and the font colour that really pops. Then the character wrapped up in all those furs against the cold. The second one is almost completely different in terms of overall feel with a much lighter tone and the character walking towards the rather foreboding mountain (whereas in the first cover she’s walking away from it – I had to take a second or third glance because the mountain in the first isn’t immediately obvious). I have veered between the two covers, and so perhaps my final choice is based more on familiarity but my favourite this week is:
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 series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
2021
April
30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
21st – The Top Hat
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
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
Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
My Five Word TL:DR Review : This was a mixed experience
Okay, here’s the thing, I actually enjoyed this, it’s quite a compelling read, unusually dark, twisted and, well, strange.
For the avoidance of doubt this is a thriller. Two identical twins, one of them missing, suspected drowned in a boating accident. El and Cat haven’t spoken for years, they were so close as children but past events have driven them apart and they haven’t seen each other for quite some time. With El’s disappearance Cat returns to her childhood home, something of a gothic monstrosity that holds many unusual memories. She never expected to return and although her visit is at first a little on the reluctant side she soon enough finds herself becoming embroiled with the investigation, especially once she starts to receive strange threats and even stranger secret clues.
Now, I can’t really talk about the plot because it would be so easy to give things away so this is probably going to be a little bit of a teaser of a review.
Where to begin. Let’s start with the characters. So, obviously Cat plays a key role, El is absent but through flashbacks to the two’s childhood we gradually build up a picture of their relationship and trust me when I say their childhood was not the most straightforward. Ross is El’s husband, handsome and charismatic, distraught about his missing wife and anxious that the police are about to give up the search. Now the thing here is there’s a ‘history’ between these two – but I won’t say more. We also have a few peripheral characters, friends to El before she went missing that serve to illuminate that maybe everything in the marriage was less than perfect. Gradually, we start to build up a picture and it’s a little bleak.
Setting. This is where things become a little bit surreal. We do spend the majority of the time in the girl’s childhood home, a lot of that time in particular through flashbacks and it can feel a little surreal. Let me be clear, this is not magical realism – or at least it isn’t in my mind – what this is about is escapism and childhood imagination working overtime to block things out (although clowns?). On top of this there’s a certain aspect of unreliable narrator taking place here not to mention some squashing of memories which helps to spin an overall sense of confusion.
In terms of criticisms. I think that there is definitely an element of feeling confused at certain points with this one, part of that is there is also an element of busyness and part is the slow reveal of things past and present. On top of this there are certain aspects to the story that definitely made it difficult for me to connect to a couple of the characters.
All that being said, I did enjoy this. It was a quick read, it was gripping and original and undeniable twisted.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks, the above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Wondrous Words and Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
21 April 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Ariadne, Can't wait Wednesday, Elodie Harper, Elza Reads, Jennifer Saint, the Wolf Den, Wishful Endings, Wondrous Reads
“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 Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. Here’s the description:
Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii’s brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den…
Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father’s death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii’s infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For as a she-wolf, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others.
But Amara’s spirit is far from broken.
By day, she walks the streets with her fellow she-wolves, finding comfort in the laughter and dreams they share. For the streets of Pompeii are alive with opportunity. Out here, even the lowest slave can secure a reversal in fortune. Amara has learnt that everything in this city has its price. But how much is her freedom going to cost her?
Set in Pompeii’s lupanar, The Wolf Den reimagines the lives of women who have long been overlooked.
Expected publication : May 2021
This meme was first created by Kathy over at Bermuda Onion Blog and has now been adopted by Elza Reads.
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered, or spotlight words you love.
No rules just enjoy and for further info check out Elza Reads.
This week my word is:
AMPHORAE
An amphora is a type of container with a pointed bottom and characteristic shape and size which fit tightly against each other in storage rooms and packages, tied together with rope and delivered by land or sea. The size and shape have been determined from at least as early as the Neolithic Period.
This is a word taken from a recent read that I really enjoyed: Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint:
Books and travelling with Lynn 