Friday Face Off: King Sorrow by Joe Hill
Today I’m returning to the Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner. This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers. Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week I’ve chosen a book that I’ve not read yet but I’m really looking forward to, King Sorrow by Joe Hill – I’m excited for this.
Here are the covers:
My favourite this week:
I really like both covers so this was a difficult choice. Which is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
Review: The Countdown Killer (Major Crimes #4) by Sam Holland
5 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Major Crimes #4, Review, Sam Holland, The Countdown Killer, Thriller
My Five Work TL:DR Review: Seriously, My Favourite of Series
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this series by Sam Holland. No.3, The Puppet Master was so good but The Countdown Killer takes the biscuit. I could not put this down. It’s so good. It’s fast paced, brutal, dark, the characters are developing so well and it’s just compelling. I will say, at this stage in the series I think if you’re wanting to read this author I’d start at the beginning of the series. The books simply go from strength to strength, the character growth is excellent and frankly, though you could probably read all of these as standalones I think you would miss the depth that starting at the beginning really delivers.
Once again we have the winning combination of Cara and Griffin. As the story begins I think the whole Major Crimes unit are looking forward to something of a break, they’re all a little worn thin to be sure, but with the delivery of a CD to the station, their hopes are about to be dashed. The CD is apparently a snuff film but although it at first appears to be an easy one off case to solve that is far from the truth.
So, i’m not going to expand on the plot because this is an absolute corker and has to be discovered in the moment, no clues from me, no sirree.
Why this is so good.
Well, firstly, this is book four and so not only am I totally immersed in the characters and their jobs but It also feels very much like the author is in full swing. Like she has a purpose and knows wheres she’s taking us readers and her cast.
The tension is really ratcheted up for this one. The crimes are quite brutal so I’m just going to warn you about that. This is one dark and twisted story. And, of course, by book 4, I’m totally invested in the characters so for a large part of this story my heart was in my throat. Not even kidding.
The pacing is fast. Again, I think this author is a tricksy so and so, she throws everything at you and gives you little time to consider what’s going on or who the culprit might be.
The story is totally gripping. If you start this one I actually defy you to put it down. Negative. Not possible. I needed to stay up and keep reading.
And the writing is great. Everything flows well, I literally didn’t have a single little niggle.
In conclusion, I can’t recommend this series enough and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
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: The Last Witch by CJ Cooke
4 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, CJ Cooke, The Last Witch, 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: The Last Witch by CJ Cooke – I’m so excited for this!
Here’s the cover and description:
Helena Scheuberin should be doing what every other young wife is keeping house, supporting her husband, bearing his children. But when her husband’s footman, Leopold, with whom she was having an affair, is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.
Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged from her bejewelled life of comfort into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to conjure escape. But the totem is the severed hand of a murdered woman, and when a ghost appears to possess each of the prisoners, Helena realises her life is in danger both inside and outside the dungeon.
Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to a man determined to paint her as the most wicked of all? Or is the world beyond this one the real threat?
Based on a real-life event, this historical horror offers a jewel-bright portrait of female power in the thick of wide-spread female disempowerment, a thrilling addition to the canon of witcherature and silenced voices from the past.
Expected publication: October 2025
Review: We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
3 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 'Gothic', Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Review, Sarah Pinborough, We Live Here Now
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Again With The Twisted Ending
I do like Sarah Pinborough, she has a fantastic imagination and she is the Queen of Twists and in her latest novel she ramps up the tension and creates atmosphere that you could cut with a knife. On top of this she gives to us a couple and a setting where nothing is at it first appears. A haunted house with a difference and take a look at those crows on the cover – because they also play a role.
As the story begins Emily and her husband Freddie have moved into a new house in the country. A beautiful country home by all accounts and away from the hustle and bustle of London. Emily is recovering from a terrible accident and the peaceful setting will surely help with a speedy recover. Except, Emily finds the house unsettling, Freddie rushed into the move when she was in hospital and she clearly isn’t fully on board but it is what it is. This is their new home – bought as seen including things that go bump in the night.
This is a psychological novel. It insinuates itself, creeps under your skin little by little. Strange things happen in ‘the house’ and yet Emily is the only one who witnesses these occurences. Is Emily a reliable narrator or not? Also, the split povs definitely throw the cat amongst the pigeons as we get to hear the story from both Emily and Freddy’s perspective – and this definitely serves to illuminate some of the cracks appearing between the couple.
On top of this and the strange bumps in the night the house seems to be often shrouded in fog, but of course, winter is reluctant to give up it’s grasp. And then, we have more people introduced who quite simply serve to thicken the plot.
I had a really good time with this. The writing is pure Pinborough. She writes such great characters and her dialogue is always spot on plus the pacing is good and keeps you reading even when you should take care of other things – like sleeping.
The setting is easy to fall into – the house you will probably want to run out of – and the supplementary characters, the all knowing vicar, the enigmatic local artist and of course Freddy – who seems to be escalating in a very strange way – all complement the story really well.
If you fancy some gothic haunting with creepy goings on and unreliable characters, not to mention a twist, that I really didn’t see coming at all, then give this a try.
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
Monthly/Weekly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate May/June
2 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Monthly Wrap Up, reading, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
This month’s wrap up post will be a bit messy again like last month’s because I’m combining it with my weekly wrap up.
Weekly Update
It’s been a lovely week with very warm weather and lots of sunshine. Since my last weekly update I’ve read We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough – which was a very good read, I also completed Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito – which was an audiobook that I really enjoyed. I picked up The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater but to be honest this one wasn’t really working it’s magic on me – I’ve read about 30% but decided to set it down for now. Instead I’ve started The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland which is so far very good.
Next Week’s reads
Complete the Countdown Killer by Sam Holland and then I’m hoping to pick up The Rush by Beth Lewis and maybe With A Vengeance by Riley Sager. In audio format I have two books that I’m very excited to start: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry and The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig.
My Monthly Wrap Up:
Books read in May:
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
- Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- Vianne by Joanne Harris
- The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
- The Vengeance by Emma Newman
Again, this month, not as good as I would have liked to be honest, my reading has been quite slow and I’ve had a few misses but I’ve also had some very good reads and I’ve already made a start on my June review books.
Here’s what I’m hoping to read in June:
- The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland
- The Rush by Beth Lewis
- With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
- A Far Better Thing by HG Parry
- Swordheart by T Kingfisher
- The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
- Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean
- The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
- Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I haven’t started this challenge yet but hoping to read a couple of backlist books this month if I can manage it.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo.
and the text version:
PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2025 (TEXT VERSION)
| 1. A prehistoric flint knapped stone knife | 2. A lighthouse | 3. An apple on a leafy branch | 4. An archery target with three arrows in it |
| 5. A very large mechanical telescope | 7. A stag | ||
| 9 |
10. A sheaf of wheat | 11. An old mechanical typewriter | |
| 15. A stylized sun with a human face | 16. A Roman helmet |
The prompts I’ve crossed off so far:
No.8 – The ruins of a temple-like structure – I’m using Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb
No. 12 – A cluster of four mushrooms – I’m using Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
No. 13 – A fringed umbrella/parasol – I’m using A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull
No.14 – A chemistry set-up of bottles and tubes – I’m using Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
No.9 – A Crab – I’m using The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – if you’ve read this already you’ll be able to guess why. There are some very unusual creatures in this story.
No.6 – A Human Skull – I’m using The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North – because this is about a serial killer and there are definite human remains included in this one.
Number of books read this year: 36
Books and travelling with Lynn 