The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Twisted reimagining of a Classic
The Wife Upstairs was, without doubt, one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far, mainly because I talked myself into thinking this was a retelling of Jane Eyre. As it is I would say that this is a story that takes inspiration from that classic story and updates it for a modern audience including a few twists along the way. Okay, I won’t deny that I actually enjoyed reading this (even though it wasn’t a straight up retelling) – Jane Eyre it isn’t, and I also had one or two issues that I had to put to one side, but even with those provisos, like I said, I enjoyed this.
Our main character, appropriately called Jane, is a dog walker for the rich housewifes who live in the gated community of Thornfield Estates. She is running from her past and a little down on her luck when we first meet her but within fairly short order her situation changes when she makes the acquaintance of wealthy, handsome widower Eddie Rochester. With almost indecent haste Jane finds herself living in the most impressive mansion on the estate and with the most eligible (and wealthy) bachelor to boot. Of course, the rose tinted glasses soon come off as the rumour mill runs amok. And the rumours are not about the latest little minx to snag herself a wealthy man, they are instead about the disappearance of said ‘wealthy man’s’ wife under suspicious circumstances and his almost ridiculous rush to start afresh, millions under his belt and a new woman tucked up in his mansion.
I wouldn’t call this a retelling because for the most part the story is pretty much it’s own beast – apart from some very surface similarities such as people and place names. That being said both books do share one particular thing in common – missing first wives.
This is a book of secrets, lies and deception which does make it difficult to say too much without giving away spoilers although readers familiar with the original may be able to guess at certain elements – although, even with some educated assumptions there is still a twist along the way.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the characters. Many of them are less than likable or morally a little ‘grey’. Jane for example is no angel. She’s not above stealing pieces of jewellery that catch her fancy, she has no love for the wealthy wives she mixes with and she is always weighing up the best way to speak or behave in order to manipulate people. Refreshingly, she is very open in terms of the information she shares with the reader and so we are well aware of her scheming and duplicitous ways, and yet, in spite of this, I began to feel a certain attachment to her or at least became worried about her safety at certain points. Mr Rochester, seems to be perfect, although we clearly don’t get to observe what’s taking place in his head instead learning about him through gossip and the rumour mill. Much like Jane, Eddie seems to have enjoyed a most welcome push up the ladder when he met and married Bea (the late Mrs Rochester) and of course the disappearance of both Bea and her best friend during a boozy boat trip, which left him sitting very pretty, is looked at with suspicion. Again, Eddie is one of those characters that I found myself veering from disbelief, to dislike to almost (but not quite) sympathy. Bea herself was also something of a rags to riches character creating a successful company that made her famous and wealthy beyond her wildest dreams, but again, she isn’t perfect. Nothing is exactly how it first appears with these characters, in fact between the three of them they really do test your patience at times and I couldn’t help but find myself thinking that they really did deserve each other.
The story itself is entertaining. We have a number of jaunts down memory lane as a means to find out more about the characters both present and missing and we soon learn that everything wasn’t quite as rosy as might first appear. Now, I did have a slight problem with one of the key elements here but it’s something I can’t really discuss and to be honest I was able to put it to one side and not let it affect the read. On the whole I really enjoyed the writing and found this easy to read.
In terms of criticisms. Well, not much to be honest. I think, personally, I went into this one expecting it to be a retelling but when I look back at the description, etc, it never really professes to be so, in fact it says ‘a delicious twist on a gothic classic’ and to be honest it delivers in that respect. So, firstly, don’t be expecting a modern day retelling of Jane Eyre. Secondly, the setting is completely different. This isn’t gothic at all and isn’t trying to be. Think more Desperately Rich Housewives – and you’ll be somewhat closer to the mark. Finally, the characters have a different twist, none of them are completely blameless but some are definitely guiltier than others.
So, with all that in mind, I had a good time with this one. It was fast paced, easy to read and it kept me coming back for more.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating – between 3.5 and 4 stars (7 out of 10) but will probably err on the side of 4 rather than 3 because I did find this easy to get on with.
Wondrous Words and Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Broken God (The Black Iron Legacy #3 by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
10 February 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Elza Reads, Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan, The Broken God, Wishful Endings, Wondrous Word
Every Wednesday I take part in Can’t Wait Wednesday, I’m also hoping to take part in a new meme being hosted by Elza Reads called Wondrous Words Wednesday. I’ll be combining these into the same posts as they’re both short and sweet.
“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 Broken God (The Black Iron Legacy #3 by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
Enter a city of dragons and darkness.
The Godswar has come to Guerdon, dividing the city between three occupying powers. While the fragile Armistice holds back the gods, other forces seek to extend their influence. The criminal dragons of the Ghierdana ally with the surviving thieves – including Spar Idgeson, once heir to the Brotherhood of Thieves, now transformed into the living stone of the New City.
Meanwhile, far across the sea, Spar’s friend Carillon Thay travels towards the legendary land of Khebesh, but she, too, becomes enmeshed in the schemes of the Ghierdana – and in her own past. Can she find what she wants when even the gods seek vengeance against her?
Expected Publication : May 2021
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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.
My word this week is: – well, I had quite a few to choose from this week (I made notes – I can learn)
Stovies
Stovies (also stovy tatties, stoved potatoes, stovers or stovocks) is a Scottish dish based on potatoes. Recipes and ingredients vary widely but the dish contains potatoes, fat, usually (but not always) onions and often (but again not always) pieces of meat. In some versions, other vegetables may also be added.
The potatoes are cooked by slow stewing in a closed pot with fat and often a small amount of water or sometimes other liquids, such as milk, stock or meat jelly. Stovies may be served accompanied by cold meat or oatcakes and, sometimes, with pickled beetroot.
“To stove” means “to stew” in Scots. The term is from the French adjective étuvé which translates as braised. Versions without meat may be termed barfit and those with meat as high-heelers.
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So, potatoes – gotta love em. Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew (or stovie). Plus I love that included in the definition is the names for different versions – so if you include meat your stovies are known as ‘high-heelers’ – I assumed that was based on whether you could afford to put meat in your stew or not – and this does seem to be the case as ‘barfit’ (without meat) translates to barefoot. So you either went barefoot or high heeled.
Stovie – it has a lovely warm feeling to it somehow.
And the book where I noted this was the Library of the dead by TL Huchu. Description here.
That’s it for this week. If you’re taking part in both of these or either please don’t forget to link up.
The Iron Raven (The Iron Fey: Evenfall #1) by Julie Kagawa
9 February 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Evenfall #1, Julie Kagawa, The Iron Fey, The Iron Raven
My Five Word TL:DR Review: It’s not you, it’s me
I recently read and loved the Shadow of the Fox series by Julie Kagawa so when I saw her latest book I couldn’t help requesting it. I love reading books about the fey and even though I’ve not read the previous Iron Fey books this is a new start with a central character that I simply couldn’t resist – Puck, or Robin Goodfellow as he is sometimes known.
The long and the short of it is that this one didn’t work out quite as well for me as I’d hoped, but, in fairness I think its maybe an ‘it’s me not you’ thing. I imagine that readers familiar with this world will enjoy the return to much loved characters but as they were all new to me I didn’t have that attachment to carry me along.
I must say I got off to a really good start. I was enjoying reading about Puck and especially the Goblin Market where he met an old acquaintance and a female assassin who definitely piqued his interest. At this point we become aware of something dark attacking the fae of the Between and so the story takes us in the direction of a place where forgotten fae live in search of a monster that seeps evil.
Now, the thing is with this review I’m trying to avoid mention of so many things so as not to spoil the story for readers who are already familiar with this world and it’s characters. Instead I’m going to give more a few pros and cons.
Well, as I mentioned above I love that this is a story that focuses on Puck. The backstory about how he came to the Summer Court to serve under Oberon and Titania was really good. I also liked the character Nyx, a rather deadly and stunning assassin. She is fascinating and I would definitely like to know more about her.
I really liked that we travelled about and saw quite a few places and I loved the way the story uses fairytale scenarios and other little quotes that felt like shout outs.
The writing is good and the pace quick, in fact I pretty much flew through this until I reached maybe the last third.
In terms of criticisms. Well, I mentioned that I really liked that the story centres around Puck. However, given the direction that things take I wouldn’t say that he comes across in the best light. I realise of course that it’s linked to the overall storyline but it just left me feeling a little disappointed. Also, although I really liked Nyx I really didn’t feel any chemistry between her and Puck and so that element to the story fell flat for me. There was also a slight element of repetitiveness towards the end, which is where everything slowed down for me, not to mention a cliffhanger conclusion.
Overall, this one didn’t work out for me which is a shame. In fairness this is aimed at a much younger audience and I feel like readers who are already familiar with this world might enjoy this return to beloved characters more than I was able.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating : 2.5 out of 5 stars
Top Ten Tuesday : Love/Romance Freebie
9 February 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 Love stories, That Artsy Reader Girl, 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 :
Love Freebie
Okay, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so this week I thought I’d focus on books with romance. Now I don’t particularly read a lot of romance but I guess over the years I’ve read a few. I think most of these are fairly well known so I’ve gone for covers only this week:
The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights #1) by TL Huchu
8 February 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Edinburgh Nights #1, The Library of the Dead, TL Huchu
My Five Word TL:DR Review. Mixed Feelings, positive and negative
The Library of the Dead – I want to hug you and slap you. In some respects I think this is just great, in other respects, I have questions and issues. Let’s look at the plot first.
So, this feels like a near future urban fantasy. There has been an event known as the ‘Catastrophe’ but I can’t really speak with confidence about what this really involved. Based in Edinburgh we follow a character called Ropa. A young woman who, well, ‘sees dead people’. She also talks to them and relays messages to their living relatives or loved ones, providing her fee is met. Ropa is stalked by ‘others’. They’re all on her case to pass on messages, the dead are just as bad as the living sometimes in that they’re trying to pull a fast one so Ropa has learned to harden her shell a little. However, when she is repeatedly approached by a spirit worried about her son’s disappearance, payment or not, she is eventually cajoled into delving deeper, at which point it appears that more children are disappearing mysteriously, sometimes returning, but never without terrible outcomes.
Okay, firstly the good. The writing is excellent. It took me a little time to get into the dialect but I loved it regardless. I loved being in the City of Edinburgh. I confess this is a city that I would love to visit and so spending time here through the pages of a book is most welcome. I liked Ropa. This is a character that I can definitely develop an attachment to, she is basically responsible, unselfish and tough. She’s not some sort of badass character but she has learnt her lessons on the streets from an early age and she is tough enough.
The likable. I liked the magic. The supporting cast of characters. I loved Ropa’s background and her grandmom’s magical teachings. I really enjoyed that she speaks to spirits by using a musical instrument. I liked the juxtaposition of two different magic strategies. An almost earth style magic practiced by Ropa which feels very natural and elemental compared to a very book learned magic taught at the library that does feel a little more rigid – although both work. I liked the supporting cast of characters. Priya and Jomo are definitely characters that I can see myself liking. I also love the way this story is just so easily inclusive, this is definitely the sort of writing and plotting that I can get behind because it’s effortless and natural – or at least that’s the way it appeared to me.
The perplexing. Not sure what the ‘catastrophe’ is. This book is earning the monica of ‘dystopian’ but it doesn’t feel like that to me to be honest. Yes, this is a city of extremes. Some people living in abject poverty, gang crime being prevalent. Perhaps the event mentioned is what led to the magic and spirits, not to mention different ‘planes’ being released upon the population. Also, this has a YA theme to it in some respects. Ropa is a young teenager with a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Look, some people have a tough call in life so I can get on board with Ropa being only 14 or so, but at the same time it does take a little getting used to – well in that in my head I was reading her as a slightly older character.
The grim. The theme here is a bit grim without doubt. In fact I can’t deny that I found it shocking in parts. This is centred around young children being stolen away for quite horrible purposes. It is shocking without doubt. In the same respect – the ‘Milkman’ – I think this author may have come up with a truly hideous antagonist to give most a run for their money and it makes me want to read more to see what happens next.
The criticisms. Well, firstly, I just have to mention the use of Library of the Dead for the title. I can’t deny that this gave me a completely different expectation than was actually the reality. Okay, I’m going to address the elephant in the room. There seems to be a trend of chucking the word ‘library’ into a title because it will appeal to bibliophiles, and it does. It really does. Put ‘library’ into the title and you pretty much have my attention. At the same time though – I want that library to deliver on the promise The library here, as interesting as it is – is not where the dead are rushing around and in fact this is much more a city wide investigation. This is a library of magic and the occult, and there are things to be learnt here (duh, library) but it’s not where the majority of the story takes place and it is definitely not where the dead make their appearances (although this does have a ‘safe place’ type of feel which I do appreciate and understand). Secondly, I think that some of the themes here are quite adult, and yet at the same time this has a YA feel. Personally speaking, I don’t think this is YA – at the same time it gives me pause for thought about why have a 14 year old pov character. I can only deduce that we’re going to grow into this story and character as the series progresses.
On the whole. I think this had a slightly slow start, but was interesting and snappy enough in other ways to keep my attention. Plus, I always give new series a little leeway as they have to deliver a certain amount of information whilst remaining entertaining.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
I would rate this 7 out of 10 or 3.5 of 5 and this would be on the higher side so in terms of Goodreads this would work out at 4 of 5.
Books and travelling with Lynn 